22 April,2026 08:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/Maharashtra CMO
The Maharashtra government has approved a series of large infrastructure proposals, including Mumbai Metro Line 5A Phases 1 and 2, funding support for three expressway projects in Vidarbha, and preparations for the Nashik Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela scheduled for 2027.
The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Infrastructure Development chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Mantralaya. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and other senior ministers and officials were present.
The state has cleared projects worth Rs 18,130.55 crore for Mumbai Metro Line 5A, covering both Phase 1 and Phase 2. The proposed corridor will span 34.21 km and include 19 stations, connecting key urban centres across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Phase 1 of the project will run from Kapurbawdi to Dhamankar Naka, while Phase 2 will extend from Dhamankar Naka to Durgadi. The extended Line 5A corridor will further connect Durgadi to Kalyan and Ulhasnagar.
According to officials, the metro line is expected to serve nearly 6.9 million residents in Thane, Bhiwandi, Kalyan, and Ulhasnagar. Authorities estimate that the project could reduce travel time by up to 40-50 percent once operational.
The Chief Minister directed departments to fast-track approvals from the central government and other agencies to ensure timely implementation.
The state has also approved a proposal to raise funds from Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) to support land acquisition for three major expressway projects in the Vidarbha region.
These include the Nagpur-Gondia, Bhandara-Gadchiroli, and Nagpur-Chandrapur corridors, which are aimed at improving regional connectivity and supporting industrial development.
The Nagpur-Gondia expressway, planned over 162.577 km, is estimated to cost Rs 19,582.19 crore, including Rs 3,162.18 crore for land acquisition. The Bhandara-Gadchiroli stretch, measuring 94.241 km, will require Rs 931.15 crore for land acquisition, while the 204.799 km Nagpur-Chandrapur corridor is expected to need Rs 2,353.94 crore for land acquisition.
The Chief Minister has asked the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation to finalise timelines for tendering, execution, and completion. Officials have been instructed to target completion within six years and coordinate closely with the Finance Department to expedite loan processing.
In a parallel decision, the government approved Rs 1,063 crore for Phase 2 infrastructure works for the Nashik Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela in 2027.
The funding will be used to strengthen essential civic infrastructure, including parking facilities, water supply, power distribution, healthcare services, solid waste management systems, and the establishment of a central control room.
Officials have been asked to prioritise the execution of these works to ensure adequate arrangements for the large number of visitors expected during the religious gathering.
Senior bureaucrats, including Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and other departmental heads, attended the meeting and reviewed project readiness and timelines.
