On December 31, 2025, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved the following proposals:
- Widening of National Highway (NH)-326 in Odisha from 68.600 kilometer(km) to 311.700 km in Odisha
- Construction of a 6-lane Greenfield corridor from Nashik to Solapur-Akkalkot in Maharashtra
Exam Hints:
- What? Union Cabinet Approved Proposals
- Approval 1: Widening of NH-326 in Odisha from 68.600km to 311.700 km in Odisha
- Financial Outlay: Rs.1,526.21 crores, including Rs.966.79 crores (civil construction cost)
- Duration: 24 months, followed by a 5-year defect liability and maintenance period
- Implementation: EPC mode
- Approval 2: 6-lane, greenfield corridor from Nashik to Solapur-Akkalkot in Maharashtra (approximately 374 km)
- Budget: Rs.19,142 crores
- Mode: BOT(Toll) Mode
- Alignment: PMGS-NMP
Cabinet Approved Widening of NH-326 in Odisha:
Cost: The Union Cabinet approved the widening and strengthening of NH-326 from 68.600 km to 311.700 km in Odisha, with the total budget outlay of Rs.1,526.21 crores, encompassing civil construction cost of Rs.966.79 crores.
Improved Connectivity: The project enhances connectivity with NH-26, NH-59, NH-16, and the Raipur(Chhattisgarh)-Visakhapatnam(Andhra Pradesh, AP) corridor and access to Gopalpur Port(Odisha), Jeypore Airport(Odisha), and railway stations.
- The project will reduce travel time by 2.5-3 hours and distance by about 12.5 km, enhancing the overall development of southern Odisha, especially Gajapati, Rayagada, and Koraput districts.
Implementation: The project will be implemented in the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode using modern construction and Quality-Control (QC) technologies and is targeted for completion in 24 months, followed by a 5-year defect liability and maintenance period.
- Progress will be monitored through drones, survey vehicles, and digital systems.
Cabinet Approved construction of a 6-lane greenfield corridor in Maharashtra:
Financial Outlay: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs(CCEA), chaired by the PM Narendra Modi, has approved the Construction of 6-lane greenfield access-controlled Nashik- Solapur-Akkalkot Corridor in Maharashtra on
Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) (Toll) mode, covering approximately 374 km, involves an investment of Rs.19,142 crores.
Improved Connectivity: The corridor will improve connectivity between Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Solapur in Maharashtra and Kurnool in AP, strengthening west-east transport connectivity. The travel time will be reduced by 17 hours from 31 hours to 17 hours, and distance will be reduced by 201 km.
- It will connect with Delhi-Mumbai (Maharashtra) Expressway, Agra (Uttar Pradesh, UP)-Mumbai corridor, and Samruddhi Mahamarg, enhancing coast-to-coast access.
Design Features: The project features a 6-lane access-controlled highway with closed tolling, designed for a speed of 100 kilometre per hour (km/h) and an average operating speed of 60 km/h.
Alignment: The project aligns with the Pradhan Mantri GatiShakti – National Master Plan (PMGS-NMP), an initiative by the Government of India (GoI).
About Maharashtra:
Chief Minister (CM) – Devendra Fadnavis
Governor – Acharya Devvrat
Capital – Mumbai
Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) – Sagareshwar WLS, Tipeshwar WLS
