MSRDC clears ₹1,222-cr tunnel & elevated road

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has approved the much-awaited Kharghar-Turbhe connectivity project comprising an elevated road and tunnel entailing an investment of ₹1,222 crore. A DPR will be prepared and tenders will be floated shortly. Out of the total cost, ₹300 crore will be contributed by CIDCO, ₹150 crore by MIDC and MSRDC each and the remaining ₹622 crore will be borrowed. The project cost will be recovered by charging toll and heavy vehicles will not be allowed to ply on the road. The road going towards Kharghar will end near central park from where the National Highway (NH) 4 is at a distance of only 2 km. The route will not be connected to NH-4 as CIDCO is of the view that the local people will be using this road due to its shorter distance and if at all heavy vehicles are allowed it will create traffic snarls. However, the tunnel length is of 9 metres and trucks, containers and other heavy vehicles can pass if in future the road is proposed to be connected with the NH-4. CIDCO, with this new connectivity, wants to develop the Central Park at Kharghar from the tourism point of view.