Maharashtra plans 500-km long greenfield e-way

The Maharashtra government has proposed to construct a 500-km long greenfield expressway along the Konkan coastline connecting Nhava Sheva in Raigad district with the border of Maharashtra and Goa, said urban development minister Eknath Shinde. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is conducting a technical and financial feasibility study of the project. The plan is to build it along the coastline so that travellers will enjoy the natural beauty of the Konkan, and to develop the coastal tourism of the region. It will reduce stress on the Mumbai-Goa National Highway as the expressway will start from Chirle village near Nhava Sheva port (Raigad) to Patradevi village located on the border of Maharashtra and Goa. The expressway will crisscross coastlines of Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg district and will help in the development of Konkan and ensure the quicker evacuation of its crop produce such as cashew nut, mango etc, for the international markets and create jobs as well.