The New Economic Lifeline: Chennai-Nashik Expressway

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has revised the Chennai–Surat National Highway corridor under the Bharatmala Pariyojana by shortening and realigning the route to run from Chennai to Nashik instead of Surat.

The modification was necessitated by challenges in land acquisition and delays in obtaining environmental clearances along the Surat–Nashik section. Originally envisioned as a 1,271-km expressway from Surat to Chennai at an estimated cost of ₹50,000 crore, the corridor will now span about 900 km and terminate at Nashik. The initial alignment was designed to connect Surat, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Kalaburagi, Kurnool, Kadapa, and Tirupati.

Under the revised plan, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will develop a separate greenfield expressway to fulfil the connectivity objectives of the Surat–Nashik segment. Officials have clarified that the project’s core aim remains intact, with the six-lane, access-controlled expressway expected to facilitate high-speed travel between Central and Southern India.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.