Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Railway Department and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will jointly construct four tunnels at Autram Ghat in Kannad on Solapur-Dhule Highway (no. 241). This was decided in an important meeting held in Delhi on Tuesday evening jointly by union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to discuss the construction of a tunnel at the Ghat.
Both ministries agreed on the principle of completing the project by sharing the cost in half. The project to build a tunnel in the Autram Ghat was delayed for a decade and a half due to unreasonable costs. Now, it has been decided to take up the project in a joint venture of the union Ministry of Railways and the union Ministry of Transport.
A total of Rs 3,500 crores from Railways and Rs 3500 crores from NHAI were approved in principle in that meeting that was organised at the residence of union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari in Delhi on Tuesday.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, MP Dr Bhagwat Karad, industrialists Ram Bhogle and Vivek Deshpande, along with senior officials from both the ministries and directors and officers of Gati Shakti were present.
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4 tunnels of 15 km length
There is a proposal to construct four tunnels of 15 km in length in the Autrum Ghat. One of them will carry railway traffic and the other will carry the Dhule-Solapur National Highway. The remaining two tunnels will be reserved for safety reasons.
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40,000 vehicles to ply in the future
Currently, 22,000 vehicles are plying the 110-kilometer circuit due to the lack of a tunnel in the Ghat. Considering the industrial investment being made here, the future production of Kirloskar and other renowned companies will result in the plying of 40,000 vehicles on this highway.
(Ram Bhogale, Industrialist)
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The tunnel will be important for connecting South and North India. This route will connect the two directions of the country, including industrial and communication in Marathwada. Along with this, the railway line from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to Chalisgaon and further to Solapur will be connected. These two routes, which will create a magnet for communication, are almost approved. Both ministries will spend 50 per cent cost each for the DPR. The tender process will begin in a few months.
(Dr Bhagwat Karad, MP)
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Chalisgaon Railway route cleared
There will be a project on a partnership basis through both Ministries to construct tunnels of 15 km length. Both the ministers ordered their agencies to prepare the DPR of the tunnels. Due to this, the route of Chalisgaon Railway has also been cleared.