Cabinet Approves Highway from JNPA to Chowk in Maharashtra

21 Mar 2025 CW Team

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a 6-lane access-controlled Greenfield High-Speed National Highway from JNPA Port (Pagote) to Chowk in Maharashtra. The 29.219 km project will be developed on a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) toll model at an estimated cost of Rs 45 billion.

As part of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the project aims to enhance road connectivity to major ports, addressing increasing container traffic at JNPA and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport. Currently, heavy congestion in urban areas like Palaspe Phata, D-Point, Kalamboli Junction, and Panvel results in a travel time of 2-3 hours from JNPA to NH-48 and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. This is expected to worsen after the Navi Mumbai airport becomes operational in 2025, making direct connectivity crucial.

The highway will connect JNPA Port (NH-348) to Mumbai-Pune Highway (NH-48) while also linking the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and Mumbai-Goa National Highway (NH-66). To facilitate smoother freight movement, two tunnels through the Sahyadri hills will replace the existing ghat section, allowing high-speed transit for large container trucks.

This strategic infrastructure project is expected to improve logistics efficiency, boost port connectivity, and support economic growth in the Mumbai-Pune region.

(PIB)

Infrastructure Transport

01 Jun 2026

MMRDA advances 250 m on Orange Gate–Marine Drive tunnel

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has completed 250 m of underground tunnelling for the Orange Gate–Marine Drive Urban Road Tunnel using India’s largest slurry shield tunnel boring machine (TBM) deployed for an urban road project.The project involves twin tunnels extending over 7 km beneath critical transport corridors, including Central Railway, Western Railway and Metro Line 3. The work requires high-precision engineering to navigate densely developed urban infrastructure.Once completed, the tunnel is expected to reduce travel time between Orange Gate and Marin..

Hindustan Zinc Pays Rs 188.46 Billion in FY26

Hindustan Zinc contributed Rs 188.46 billion to the public exchequer in FY 2025-26, according to its 9th Tax Transparency Report. The contribution, equivalent to 46 per cent of the company’s revenue, included direct and indirect taxes, government royalties, dividends to the Government of India, withholding taxes and other statutory levies.The company’s five-year cumulative contribution to the exchequer stood at Rs 915.72 billion. In FY26, Hindustan Zinc reported revenue of Rs 408.44 billion, EBITDA of Rs 221.62 billion and profit after tax of Rs 138.32 billion. It also achieved its highest..

World of Concrete India 2026 Opens in Mumbai

Informa Markets in India will host the 12th edition of World of Concrete India 2026 from 3–5 June 2026 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. The specialised B2B exhibition will bring together manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, developers, architects, consultants, infrastructure companies, project leaders and government stakeholders.The event is expected to feature over 350 brands and more than 18,000 trade professionals. It will cover concrete and cement, dry mortar, precast technologies, formwork, construction chemicals, industrial and commercial flooring, scaffolding, safety solutio..