Expressway on fast-track mode

Maharashtra government has put the Rs30,000-crore Mumbai-Nagpur super communication expressway on fast-track.The nodal agency for the project is-run Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). It recently gave the consultancy contract to STUP for the feasibility and detailed project report for the 260 km Amravati section that entails an investment of Rs7,800 crore. Wadia & Co received the consultancy contract for the 115-km Nashik section costing Rs3,450 crore. MSRDC has invited tenders for the 128 km Nagpur section (Rs3,840 crore), 165 km Aurangabad section (Rs4,950 crore) and 80 km Konkan section (Rs2,400 crore). The bidders have to submit bids by February 22 and they will be entitled to download a RFP between February 22 and March 10. The 800 km access controlled Nagpur-Mumbai highway has been divided into five sections. The construction cost for the eight lane expressway is estimated at Rs30 crore per km which involves six lanes of super communication highway.