Maharashtra Budget 2020: Government to construct 40,000 km of rural roads worth Rs 2,501 crore

The Maharashtra State Government has allocated funds for the development of road infrastructure across the city as part of the recently announced State Budget for 2020-21. Prominent among these is the Rs 3,500 crore Konkan Marine Highway, which will reportedly be finished within three years. Moreover, Rs 15,000 crore will be spent towards the creation of a 170 km ring road to divert traffic entering Pune city from outside.

Further, the government will allocate Rs 1,501 crore as part of the Rural Road Development Scheme which will see 40,000 km of new roads being laid out. The state government has set aside Rs 1,000 crore for 2020-21 towards the Urban Road Development Scheme. 

It’s worth pointing out that this is separate from the Rs 2 lakh crore allocated to infrastructure development in parts of Mumbai as well as the state. It is said that the authorities have undertaken works for parts of the project already. 

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The government will set up Krishi Samruddhi Kendra at 20 locations of the city along the proposed Samruddhi Expressway. This will be instrumental in generating more revenue for the state, it is said. Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar mentioned that the government had saved up on interest outgo thanks to the allocation of Rs 8,500 crore. The Mumbai Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway is expected to cost Rs 55,000 crore. 

Additionally, the government is also planning to extend the Pune-Pimpri Chinchwad Metro line. This will be done by adding new metro lines from Shivaji Nagar to Shewale Wadi as well as Maan to Pirangut. Meanwhile, the Vanaj - Ramwadi metro will be extended, thus offering connectivity to Chandani Chowk - Vanaj - Ramvadi - Wagholi. These projects will be undertaken at a cost of Rs 1,656 crore. 

The state also announced spending Rs 500 crore on Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) towards the purchase of 1,600 new buses that will replace the existing fleet of older buses. A further Rs 200 crore has been set aside to modernize MSRTC terminals across the state. 

The Maharashtra State Government has also allocated funds for the development of water transport in the state as per the budget allocation for 2020-21. This includes the National Waterways Scheme which will help commuters travel from Mira Bhayander to Dombivli on the Vasai-Thane-Kalyan route.