In a major infrastructure initiative, the Maharashtra government has announced plans to construct a new expressway connecting Mumbai and Goa. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is spearheading the development of this 376 km long expressway, which will feature six lanes and access-control measures to ensure smoother traffic flow.

The proposed expressway, known as the Greenfield Konkan Expressway, will run along the scenic Konkan coast. Work on the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has already begun, and the MSRDC has initiated the process of seeking approval from the Environment Department for this ambitious project.

The expressway will create a vital corridor connecting Sindhudurg with Panvel (Navi Mumbai), passing through the districts of Raigad and Ratnagiri. Currently, the journey between Mumbai and Sindhudurg takes approximately 12-13 hours, but once the expressway is completed, this travel time is expected to be reduced to just 6 hours.

Aside from shortening travel time, the expressway is set to boost tourism and create job opportunities in the surrounding regions. With 14 interchanges planned along the route, the expressway will make travel more convenient for commuters.

The total cost of the project is estimated at ₹68,000 crore, and it will cover approximately 3,792 hectares of land, including 146 hectares of forest area. This large-scale infrastructure development aims to enhance connectivity and promote economic growth in Maharashtra's coastal areas.

In addition, the long-awaited Mumbai-Goa Expressway, another major project, is expected to be operational by December this year. This expressway will reduce the travel time between Mumbai and Goa to 6 hours from the current 12-hour journey. The ongoing work on the 460 km Mumbai-Goa Highway, which is being divided into 11 phases, is also progressing well, with a completion target set for December 2024.

In June of this year, it was announced that the 42 km stretch between Panvel and Kasu is now 99% complete, with the entire highway set to become fully operational by December. The Mumbai-Goa Highway, spanning a total of 460 km, is being developed in 11 phases to expedite the process.

The construction of the Mumbai-Goa Highway is being overseen by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in collaboration with the state government’s National Highway Public Works Department (NH PWD).

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