"Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has granted approval for several critical infrastructure projects during a recent cabinet session."

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has approved a series of major infrastructure projects, including Metro Line-8 connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports, at a meeting of the Cabinet Infrastructure Committee held at Mantralaya.

According to an official release issued on Tuesday, the committee gave its approval to the 35-kilometre Metro Line-8 corridor linking Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) with the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport. The project is aimed at improving urban mobility and strengthening airport-to-airport connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

The committee also cleared the implementation of the 66-kilometre Nashik City Ring Road through the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and approved a revised alignment for a four-lane cement concrete highway from Navegaon Mor to Surjagad in Gadchiroli district to facilitate mineral transportation.

Chairing the meeting, Chief Minister Fadnavis directed that land acquisition and all statutory clearances for infrastructure projects must be completed before the commencement of work. He further instructed that all projects should be completed within three years after land acquisition to avoid cost escalation.

Emphasising timely execution, the Chief Minister said infrastructure works must not be delayed under any circumstances. He directed officials to expedite the extended stretches of the Samruddhi Expressway connecting Nagpur–Gondia and Bhandara–Gadchiroli, and instructed that work orders must clearly mandate completion within a three-year timeframe.

Fadnavis also proposed the introduction of an “auto-mode” system, providing incentives to contractors who complete projects within the stipulated timeline and imposing penalties for delays. For the Gadchiroli highway project, he directed that adequate roadside space be reserved in advance for a proposed gas pipeline up to Surjagad.

As per the approved details, Metro Line-8 will have a total length of 35 kilometres, including a 9.25-kilometre underground section and a 24.636-kilometre elevated stretch. The corridor will comprise 20 stations—six underground and 14 elevated. The underground section will run from CSMIA Terminal-2 to Ghatkopar (East), while the elevated portion will extend from Govandi (West) to Navi Mumbai International Airport Terminal-2. The project will require acquisition of 30.7 hectares of land at an estimated cost of Rs. 388 crore, with the total project cost pegged at Rs. 22,862 crore.

The Nashik City Ring Road, planned in view of the upcoming Kumbh Mela, will span 66.15 kilometres and has been approved at a cost of Rs 3,954 crore. As a special provision, work orders for the project will be issued after the acquisition of 50 per cent of the required land.

For the Gadchiroli Mineral Transport Highway, the committee approved a revised alignment covering 85.76 kilometres along the Navegaon Mor–Konsari–Mulchera–Hedri–Surjagad route. The four-lane cement concrete highway is intended to support mineral transportation in the region.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) O.P. Gupta, MSRDC Managing Director Dr Anil Gaikwad, Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation Managing Director Brijesh Dixit and other senior officials attended the meeting.

Additional Chief Secretary (Public Works Department) Manisha Mhaisakar and CIDCO Managing Director Vijay Singhal made detailed presentations during the meeting, the release added.