Context:

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved two major road infrastructure projects with a total cost of about ₹20,668 crore. These include the Nashik–Solapur–Akkalkot Greenfield Corridor in Maharashtra and the widening of National Highway-326 (NH-326) in Odisha.

Nashik–Solapur–Akkalkot Greenfield Corridor (Maharashtra)

• Description: 6-lane, access-controlled greenfield highway
• Length: 374 km
• Cost: ₹19,142 crore
• Mode: Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) – Toll

Key Features:

• Design speed: 100 km/h; Average speed: 60 km/h
• Closed tolling system
• Travel time reduction: From about 31 hours to around 17 hours (≈45% reduction)
• Distance reduction: 201 km

Districts Covered: Nashik, Ahilyanagar (Ahmednagar), Dharashiv (Osmanabad) and Solapur

Benefits:

• Strengthens east–west connectivity and links with the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway
• Improved access to ports (such as JNPT) and industrial hubs
• Employment generation: About 25.1 million man-days (direct) and 31.4 million man-days (indirect) during construction
• Boost to regional economic development, industry, tourism and logistics

Widening and Strengthening of National Highway-326 (Odisha)

• Description: Upgradation of existing 2-lane highway to 2-lane with paved shoulders
• Length: 243 km (from km 68.600 to km 311.700)
• Cost: About ₹1,526 crore (included in the total)
• Mode: Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC)
• Districts Covered: Gajapati, Rayagada and Koraput (aspirational and tribal-dominated districts)

Benefits:

• Connects the Mohana–Koraput region with major economic and logistics corridors (NH-26, NH-59, NH-16 and the Raipur–Visakhapatnam corridor)
• Provides last-mile connectivity to Gopalpur Port, Jeypore Airport and multiple railway stations
• Reduces travel time and vehicle operating costs; improves road safety
• Accelerates development in southern Odisha, especially in tribal areas

Background

The Government, through a Gazette Notification dated 14 August 2012, declared as NH-326 the highway section starting from its junction with NH-59 near Aska, passing through Mohana, Rayapanka, Amalabhata, Rayagada and Laxmipur, and terminating at its junction with NH-30 near Chinturu in Odisha.