Maharashtra moves ahead with 500-km Konkan e-way

The state government in Maharashtra has decided to build a 500-km greenfield Konkan expressway. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has issued a RFQ to appoint consultancy services to prepare a feasibility report and a detailed project report for the same. Prior to this, the state urban development department had announced that a greenfield expressway will be constructed along the Maharashtra coastline, connecting the three districts of Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. The state is looking at starting the expressway from Chirle in Raigad where the under-construction 22-km sea-bridge – the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) – ends. The expressway will extend up to Patradevi at the Maharashtra-Goa border in Sindhudurg district. The project would help boost coastal tourism and reduce stress on the Mumbai-Goa National Highway. Radheshyam Mopalwar, VC and MD, MSRDC, informed that the consultant will look at the feasibility of the project along with the social and environmental impact, and will also suggest a financial model to be adopted for the mega project.