Centre Approves Rs 45 Bn 6-Lane Highway Project Connecting JNPT to Chowk

20 Mar 2025 CW Team

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a six-lane access-controlled greenfield high-speed national highway, linking Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) in Pagote to Chowk in Maharashtra. The Rs 45 billion project will be developed under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model.

At present, congestion in urban areas such as Palaspe Phata, D-Point, Kalamboli Junction, and Panvel causes delays of 2-3 hours for vehicles moving from JNPA Port to the Golden Quadrilateral (NH-48) and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The new highway will provide seamless connectivity between JNPA, NH-48, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, and NH-66 (Mumbai-Goa National Highway), significantly improving freight movement.

The infrastructure boost comes ahead of the operationalisation of Navi Mumbai International Airport in 2025, addressing the increasing demand for direct road connectivity in the region. The highway is expected to enhance port connectivity, improve logistics efficiency, and drive economic growth in the Mumbai-Pune corridor.

Government Approves Rs 106 billion Urea Plant in Assam The Cabinet also sanctioned the establishment of a Rs 106 billion urea plant in Assam as part of its strategy to reduce fertilizer imports and strengthen India’s self-sufficiency in agricultural inputs.

The new brownfield Ammonia-Urea Complex at Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Ltd (BVFCL) in Namrup will have an annual production capacity of 12.7 lakh tonnes of urea. Developed through a joint venture (JV) with a 70:30 debt-equity ratio, the project is scheduled for commissioning within 48 months.

This initiative aligns with the government’s long-term vision of ensuring agricultural security and reducing dependency on foreign imports

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