Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari jointly inaugurated nine road overbridges in various districts of Maharashtra. These overbridges are situated in Nagpur, Nashik, Jalgaon, Mumbai, Thane, Sangli, and Chandrapur districts. The ceremony took place in Nagpur, where the dignitaries virtually inaugurated the projects and laid the foundation for additional infrastructure development initiatives. During his address, Gadkari commended the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (MahaRail), collaboration between the Maharashtra government and the Railway Ministry, for efficiently completing the bridge projects. He praised the organisation for its prompt execution, highlighting the commendable designs and safety measures incorporated into the structures. Fadnavis expressed that MahaRail, his brainchild, plays a significant role in accelerating railway projects and enhancing connectivity in the state. Among the nine overbridges, the one inaugurated at Bhilawadi station in Sangli district stands out as the longest in the state. Two of the overbridges are located in north Maharashtra, one near Kherwadi station in Nashik district and the other near Jalgaon city in Jalgaon district. The two-lane road overbridge near Kherwadi, constructed at a cost of Rs 390 million, spans 793 meters. Its completion has resulted in the closure of a level crossing, saving valuable time for commuters and reducing the risk of accidents in the area. Similarly, the two-lane, 1,005 meter road overbridge near Jalgaon station, built at a cost of Rs 540 million, has been adorned with LED lighting on decorative arches for aesthetic appeal and enhanced safety features. Sangli district boasts two road overbridges, one at Bhilawadi and the other at Miraj. Officials note that the doubling and electrification work on the Pune-Miraj section is nearing completion, necessitating the construction of these overbridges for seamless commuter passage. Sanjaykaka Patil, Sangli?s BJP MP, emphasised the completion of electrification on the Pune-Londa-Bengaluru rail route and the final stages of doubling work. He highlighted the significance of the Rs 360 million Miraj Junction road overbridge and the Rs 900 million Bhilawadi Station road overbridge, both contributing to time savings for travellers and addressing obstructions caused by rail gates in the upgraded semi-speed rail routes.