The Maharashtra State Road Improvement Project Phase-III, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), was officially launched, with public works minister Ravindra Chavan presiding over an online bhoomi poojan ceremony. The ambitious project will see the development of 1,480km of double-layer cement concrete roads across 24 districts in the state, with a total investment of Rs 12,768 crore.
Vidarbha, a key region in the state, is set to benefit from 10 new roads under this project. These include three in Buldhana, three in Nagpur, one in Yavatmal, one in Chandrapur, and two in Wardha.
The other districts in Maharashtra, such as Jalgaon, Dhule, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, will also see improvements with enhanced road networks. The project aims to ease the daily commute, facilitate industrial and agricultural transportation, and improve access to religious and tourist destinations.This large-scale infrastructure project will boost connectivity, industrial growth, and transportation across Maharashtra. It includes 44 road works spread across various districts, including major works in Latur, Jalna, Parbhani, Hingoli, Ahmednagar, Pune, Solapur, Sindhudurg, Thane, and Nashik.
The ADB will contribute US$ 500 million (approximately Rs 4,150 crore), while the remainder will be covered by central govt assistance and the state budget.
Since its inception in 2018, under the leadership of former CM Devendra Fadnavis, the ADB-financed road improvement project completed 450km of road works under its first two phases, with 469km more in progress.
In addition to improved road connectivity, the project will focus on environmental sustainability. Around 3,00,000 trees will be planted along the new roads, and water recharge systems will be installed to improve groundwater levels.
The construction of bridge-cum-bandharas will help raise the water levels in nearby areas. Other planned enhancements include building toilets for schoolchildren along the roads and constructing bus shelters for commuters.
