August 7, 2025: Maharashtra is set to make a major stride in transport infrastructure with the development of a 104-kilometre high-speed freight corridor, which will directly link the under-construction Vadhavan Port in Palghar district to the Mumbai–Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway at Bharvir in Nashik.
At present, freight from Vadhavan Port must travel a circuitous 183-km route, taking up to five hours to reach the expressway. The proposed corridor will reduce this journey by 79 kilometres and cut travel time to just 30 minutes to one hour. This dramatic improvement is expected to significantly benefit logistics operators by reducing transport costs, expediting deliveries, and improving overall efficiency.
The corridor will traverse key regions, including Dahanu, Vikramgad, Jawhar, and Mokhada in Palghar district, before entering Trimbakeshwar and Igatpuri in Nashik. In addition to boosting trade, the corridor will enhance regional connectivity across Maharashtra.
Vadhavan Port, part of the central government’s Sagarmala initiative, is poised to become a major international transhipment hub. The expressway link will offer direct cargo movement to various parts of the state and country, accelerating economic activity.
The freight corridor project carries an estimated cost of Rs 2,528.90 crore, with Rs 1,500 crore being financed through the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO). Land acquisition for the route is already underway, and the government aims to complete construction within three years.
While an official launch date is yet to be announced, the corridor is expected to revolutionise goods transport from Maharashtra’s western coast to its heartland, offering a strategic logistical advantage for both domestic and international trade.
Source: Republic World
