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Gadkari suggested developing a smart city of 10 lakh capacity to reduce the burden on Mumbai and Navi Mumbai
Photo Credit : Ritesh Sharma
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for national highway projects worth Rs. 4,135.91 crore in Panvel, Mumbai.
According to the ministry, the development work comprises a dedication of Rs. 3,500 crore JNPT Port Road Connectivity Project to the nation and for work on national highway Number 48, Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Kalamboli junction improvement project and the eastern entrance of proposed Navi Mumbai international airport.
Gadkari reiterated the need for waterways that connect with Navi Mumbai Airport. He said that as a shipping minister he had approved jetties at Belapur and Nerul. Now the state government needs to take this further to encourage waterways.
"If waterways get operational, one can easily reach Navi Mumbai Airport from any part of Mumbai within 13 to 21 minutes. The state should look after water taxis," he added.
The minister announced a new national highway to ease traffic congestion in Panvel. The new highway will start from Chirner via Uran-JNPT-Chowk and will connect to the Goa-Mumbai highway, Mumbai-Pune Expressway and Mumbai-Pune old highway.
"This will help to reduce traffic in Panvel. The proposed highway has four tunnels. The length of the new highway is 32 KM and is proposed to be completed in the ‘Bharatmala’ scheme. JNPT and the proposed Navi Mumbai airport are the growth engines of the state, added the minister.
Gadkari further suggested developing a smart city of 10 lakh capacity to reduce the burden on Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Now the era is of planned development. This will in turn usher in the overall development of the state as well.