Cabinet approves upgradation of NH-160A section in Maharashtra for Rs 3,320.38 crore

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, Feb 14 (IANS) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the rehabilitation and upgradation of the Ghoti–Trimbak (Mokhada)–Jawhar–Manor–Palghar section of NH-160A in Maharashtra, with a total length of 154.635 kms with Rs 3,320.38 crore outlay.

The project is estimated to generate approximately 19.98 lakh person-days of direct employment and 24.86 lakh person-days of indirect employment, besides inducing additional economic activity along the corridor.

The region west of Nashik, particularly around Ambad and Satpur, hosts a dense cluster of industrial units developed by Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation.

This generates significant freight traffic. At present, this traffic moves through Nashik city via NH-848, adding pressure on urban roads.

According to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), upgradation of NH-160A will provide an alternate route from these industrial areas via Triambak, bypassing the city and reducing congestion.

The traffic from Mumbai (west side) and Southern side is expected to use Samrudhi Expressway through the interchange at Igatpuri on NH-848.

Thereafter, the traffic would travel on NH-848 upto Ghoti and use NH-160A for travel to Trimbak and Nashik. From 2028 onwards, projected daily traffic exceeds 10,000 PCUs, qualifying the corridor for 4-laning, said the CCEA.

The section of NH-160A, extending westward from Trimbak toward Manor and Palghar, connects NH-160A to Delhi-Mumbai Expressway (NE-4), NH-48 and onward to the western coastal belt, as well as tribal areas of Palghar District.

“Though this link at present has 4,500 PCUs traffic, development of existing intermediate-lane carriageway to two-lanes with paved shoulders will facilitate smoother movement of both freight and passenger traffic. Also, the stretch from Manor to Palghar passes through urban built-up sections with traffic of about 12,000 PCUs, upgradation to four-lanes has been proposed for smoother movement in this urban section,” said the CCEA in a statement.

It further stated that the project has been proposed in line with the PM GatiShakti principles and will connect 6 PM GatiShakti Economic Nodes, 1 Social Nodes and 8 Logistics Nodes in the State of Maharashtra. This will have a positive impact on the Logistic Performance Index (LPI) of the country.

–IANS

na/

Related Posts

Karnataka BJP hails Union Budget, says it brought joy to people

Bengaluru, Feb 1 (IANS) Hailing the Union Budget 2025-26, presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Karnataka BJP on Saturday said that it brought joy to the countrymen.

Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Bengaluru, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, highlighted that Rs 20,000 crore has been allocated for Scheduled Caste industrialists who want to set up industries and startups.

He also pointed out that about 6,000 additional seats have been added in elite education institutions for students. Additionally, 10,000 medical seats have been increased, with significant attention given to this

“Anganwadi workers are protesting every day. For these women, providing nutritious food has been given prominence. About 6,000 additional seats have been added in elite education institutions for students. Additionally, 10,000 medical seats have been increased, with significant attention given to this,” Narayanaswamy stated.

“Especially for the middle class and salaried classes, earlier there was no tax for annual incomes up to Rs 7 lakh. No one expected the announcement that there would be no tax for annual incomes up to Rs 12 lakh. This includes journalists and middle-class individuals who earn Rs 1 lakh per month, and they have received significant relief,” he said.

“For those who earn Rs 18 lakh annually, a tax concession of Rs 70,000 has been provided. For those earning Rs 20 lakh, a concession of Rs 1.20 lakh is offered. Those earning above Rs 25 lakh per annum will be subject to a 30 per cent tax rate. This means the Backward Classes, middle class, and Scheduled Castes have been well-balanced, and a foundation has been laid for Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he added.

“This will help the country become the fourth-largest economy and eventually a developed nation. The government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has put in significant efforts toward this goal. Union Minister Sitharaman has presented a Budget that is agreeable to all,” he said.

When asked about allocations to the state of Karnataka, he said that he had not yet received the full details, but once he had all the information, he would address the media.

“In all districts, cancer centres will be opened and operate as day-care centres. Until now, such facilities do not exist. This will be of great help to people and families affected by cancer. This is not final; we can raise the demand even after the Budget is presented,” he said.

BJP State Mahila Morcha President Manjula said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji announced that the upcoming Budget will bring ‘Mahalaxmi Krupa’ to the middle class and poor sections. It is a matter of pride that Union Minister Sitharaman, being a woman, has presented the Budget eight times. Prime Minister Modi has given her this opportunity. The tax exemption up to Rs 12 lakh will greatly benefit working women, and we thank her for it.”

–IANS

mka/svn

Monsoon session of Bengal Assembly begins today, stormy debates expected over key issues

Kolkata, June 9 (IANS) The crucial Monsoon Session of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly begins Monday, and is expected to be stormy with heated debates anticipated on several contentious issues.

As per protocol, Monday’s proceedings will commence with obituary references, following which the House will be adjourned for the day. Full-fledged legislative business is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, with the session set to continue for the next two weeks.

A major flashpoint is expected on Tuesday itself, as the BJP legislative team, led by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, plans to protest the omission of the term “Operation Sindoor” from a draft resolution.

The resolution, slated for discussion, aims to condemn the April 22 killing of 26 tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, and to commend the coordinated retaliatory efforts of Indian armed forces.

The BJP has objected strongly to the exclusion of the operation’s name, arguing that “Operation Sindoor” symbolises the success of Indian forces in neutralising several terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir last month.

Another expected point of contention is the BJP’s move to bring up the communal violence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district in April. The violence erupted during protests against the newly promulgated Waqf (Amendment) Act, and BJP legislators plan to introduce a motion addressing the law-and-order situation there.

Political observers also anticipate fierce debates over several other sensitive issues.

The controversy surrounding the newly inaugurated Lord Jagannath Temple in Digha, which has allegedly been modeled after the revered Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, may be a major issue.

The recent police crackdown on protesting teachers who lost their jobs following a Supreme Court verdict in April, despite reportedly being “untainted” by corruption, is also likely to be debated.

In addition to these debates, regular committee discussions are also scheduled.

On June 11, the House will deliberate on the first report of the Standing Committee on Irrigation, Waterways, and Water Resources Investigation & Development.

On June 12, discussions will be held on the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Public Works and Public Health Engineering.

–IANS

src/skp

After ‘Justice for RG Kar’, it’s Trinamool’s ‘Justice for Pradeep Kar’ cry now

Kolkata, Oct 30 (IANS) After the ghastly rape and murder of a lady junior doctor at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata within the hospital premises last year, the slogan that reverberated across the state — and indeed the nation — was “Tomar Swor, Amar Swor, Justice for R.G. Kar. Sara Banglar ektai Swor, Justice for R.G. Kar (Your call, my call, Justice for R.G. Kar; Entire Bengal has just one call, Justice for R.G. Kar)”.

Maintaining a rhythmic semblance with that earlier slogan, the Trinamool Congress has now coined a new one — “Sara Banglar ektai Swor, Justice for Pradeep Kar (Entire Bengal has just one call, Justice for Pradeep Kar)” — as the tagline for its ongoing protest demonstrations over the suicide of 57-year-old Pradeep Kar at Panihati in North 24 Parganas district earlier this week, after his name was reportedly excluded from the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

On Thursday, the Trinamool Congress held its first protest rally at Pradeep Kar’s locality, where party leaders and supporters were seen carrying placards bearing the new slogan written in Bengali.

Participants in the rally were also heard chanting the same slogan as they walked through the neighbourhood, protesting against what they described as a tragic outcome of the NRC exercise. The rally was led by Partha Bhowmik, Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member from Barrackpore constituency, and Nirmal Ghosh, the party MLA from Panihati, among others.

At the conclusion of the rally, Bhowmik said this was just the beginning of a wider movement, and that protest demonstrations will be organised across West Bengal in the coming days against what he called the BJP’s “attempt to instill fear among the people using the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and NRC as tools”.

“Our party and the state government stand firmly beside Kar’s family. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee have assured them of all possible assistance,” Bhowmik said.

On November 4, the day the first stage of the three-phase SIR process is scheduled to begin in West Bengal, the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly is expected to lead a counter-rally in the same area, demanding a thorough investigation into Kar’s death.

“The Leader of the Opposition has the freedom to hold that rally. However, his rally will be political in nature. Our rally today was a rally of the common people,” Bhowmik said.

–IANS

src/pgh