News Brief
Arjun Brij
Jun 18, 2025, 03:29 PM | Updated 03:29 PM IST
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In a major step towards strengthening Maharashtra’s transport infrastructure, the state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has approved the construction of the first phase of the Virar-Alibag Multipurpose Transport Corridor on Tuesday (17 June).
The project will be implemented on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis, according to a state government statement.
The approved phase spans 96.41 km between Navghar in Palghar district and Balavali in Pen taluka. It forms part of the larger 126.06 km Virar-Alibag corridor and will be undertaken by the Corporation under the BOT model.
This vital corridor is designed to link Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) with the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link.
It will also serve as a critical connector between several major national highways, including the Mumbai–Ahmedabad NH-48, Mumbai–Agra NH-848, Kalyan–Murbad–Nirmal NH-61, and the Mumbai–Vadodara Expressway.
The corridor’s route will traverse key growth centres including Vasai, Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Ambernath, Panvel, Uran, Pen, and Alibag.
The Cabinet has also sanctioned immediate land acquisition for the project, with a total financial outlay of Rs 37,013 crore.
This includes Rs 22,250 crore for land acquisition and Rs 14,763 crore earmarked for interest payments.
Once completed, the corridor is expected to serve as a vital link across key national highways and connect strategic nodes like JNPT, the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport, and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link.
Arjun Brij is an Editorial Associate at Swarajya. He tweets at @arjun_brij