CM Uddhav Thackeray reviews the work on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, on Thursday, December 9, 2020, inspected the construction work of a proposed Mumbai-Pune Expressway from Khopoli to Kusgaon. 

Officials along with the CM visited the project site to review the quality and progress of construction work underway, and it is being said that the CM will also start touring various other places as soon as coronavirus cases reduce.

Present at this visit, along with the CM, were Minister for Urban Development and Public Works (Public Enterprises) Eknath Shinde, Minister for Energy Nitin Raut, Minister for Transport Adv. Anil Parab, MP Shrirang Barne, MLA Sunil Shelke, Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister Ajoy Mehta, Managing Director of State Road Development Corporation were present on the occasion. Radheshyam Mopalwar, Divisional Commissioner Saurabh Rao, Collector Dr Rajesh Deshmukh, Superintendent of Police Abhinav Deshmukh and other senior officers of the department.

Information regarding the visit was shared on CMO's official Twitter handle

मुख्यमंत्री उद्धव बाळासाहेब ठाकरे यांनी मुंबई-पुणे द्रुतगती मार्गावरील खोपोली ते कुसगाव या नवीन मार्गिकेच्या (मिसिंग लिंक) बांधकामाच्या कामाची पाहणी केली. त्यानंतर, सुरू असलेल्या बांधकामाच्या कामाचा दर्जा आणि गुणवत्तेची माहिती प्रकल्प कॅम्प कार्यालयात सादरीकरणाद्वारे जाणून घेतली. pic.twitter.com/aZEgdD8u4d

— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) December 10, 2020

Following are the highlights and key aspects of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway project

• As per plans, the existing expressway from Khalapur to Khopoli Interchange will stretch up to 5.86 km and there will be 8 paved roads on Mumbai-Pune Expressway (Missing Link) project, 
• Two tunnels (1.68 km and 8.87 km respectively) and two viaducts (0.900 km and 0.650 km respectively) will be constructed for the 13.3 km from Khopoli Exit to Kusgaon (Sinhagad Institute). 
• With the help of this project, the present Khopoli Exit to Sinhagad Sanstha of 19 km will be reduced by 6 km to 13.3 km, and this is said to save 20 to 25 minutes of travel time.
• The project was been approved by the State Environment Committee on 24th August 2018 and by the Forest Department on June 4, 2019
• The first package work (tunnel work) was assigned to M/s. Navayuga Engineering Co. Ltd. and official orders to start work were given on February 21, 2019.
• The second package work under this project (work of viaduct) was given to M/s. Afcons Infrastructure Ltd. and official work orders were released on March 1, 2019.
• The Work on Package 1 and Package 2 is expected to be completed by December 2022, and the total anticipated cost of the project is said to be INR 6,695.37 crore.