State allocates over ₹14,000 crore for CSN–Pune Expressway project

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

If all goes well, land acquisition for the proposed new Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar–Pune greenfield expressway is expected to begin soon. The state government has allocated Rs 14,886 crore (in the first phase) in this year’s budget for the six-lane, 192-km greenfield highway from Shirur to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Work on the 53-km six-lane stretch between Pune and Shirur is already underway at a cost of Rs 7,515 crore. Meanwhile, the state government has now decided to speed up the overall project.

Last year, the soil testing work for the expressway was completed at Zalta by the Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC). In June 2024, an agreement was signed between the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the state government through MSIDC for execution of the project. The district administrations of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Ahilyanagar and Pune will be involved in the land acquisition process.

Three years to the notification

It has been three years since the issuance of the Section 3(A) notification for land acquisition for the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar–Pune highway.

In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar tehsil, the proposed alignment passes through villages including Peerwadi, Hirapur, Sundarwadi, Zalta, Adgaon Budruk, Chincholi and Ghardon.

In Paithan tehsil, the route is proposed through Warvandi Khurd, Pargaon, Dongaon, Balanagar, Kapuswadi, Wadala, Bawa, Warudi Budruk, Pachalgaon, Narayangaon, Karanjkheda, Akhatwada, Waghadi, Dadegaon Jahangir, Potgaon, Saygaon and nearby areas in Paithan.

The alignment has been modified in some parts near Bidkin to accommodate industrial development.

Land acquisition process soon

The MSIDC chief engineer R R Hande said, “It is yet to be confirmed whether the alignment prepared by NHAI will remain unchanged or be revised. However, the land acquisition process is expected to start shortly.”

What about the existing road?

MSIDC has also proposed renovation of the existing Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar–Pune road at an estimated cost of ₹9,000 crore. The road has already been transferred to the corporation. The project includes improvement of the current route via the Shirur–Ahilyanagar bypass leading to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

Of the total cost, 30 per cent (Rs 2,254 crore) will be raised through institutional loans, while 70 per cent (Rs 5,260 crore) will be borrowed from banks by the corporation. The Ahilyanagar–Devgad stretch will be developed at a cost of Rs 410 crore, while the remaining work will cost about Rs 600 crore. Toll collection will begin after the completion of the project.