Complete land acquisition and all approvals before starting projects: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Approval granted for Metro connectivity between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport

Approval granted for the revised plan of the four-lane cement concrete highway from Navegaon Mor to Surjagad for mineral transportation in Gadchiroli district

Mumbai, Jan 2026 : Approval was granted for the 35-kilometre Metro Line 8 connectivity between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport at a meeting of the Cabinet Infrastructure Committee held at Mantralaya under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. In addition, approval was also given to construct the 66-kilometre Nashik city ring road through the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), and to the revised plan for the four-lane cement concrete highway from Navegaon Mor to Surjagad for mineral transportation in Gadchiroli district.

Chief Minister Fadnavis directed that land acquisition and all necessary approvals required for infrastructure projects must be completed before the commencement of the project. He also instructed that any infrastructure project should be completed within three years after land acquisition.

The Chief Minister said that infrastructure projects must be completed within the stipulated timelines and should not be delayed under any circumstances, as delays lead to an increase in project costs. He directed that work on the extended sections of the Samruddhi Mahamarg from Nagpur to Gondia and from Bhandara to Gadchiroli should be expedited. While issuing work orders, a condition should be included mandating completion of the project within three years.

He further directed the development of an ‘auto-mode’ mechanism that provides incentive payments to contractors for timely completion and penalties for delays beyond the prescribed period. While executing highway projects in Gadchiroli district, adequate space should be ensured along the roadside for a gas pipeline, as a gas pipeline is planned to be operational up to Surjagad in the future. Provision for this should be made alongside the highway from now itself, he added.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Chief Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) O. P. Gupta, Managing Director of MSRDC Dr. Anil Gaikwad, and Managing Director of Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation Brijesh Dixit, among others, were present at the meeting.

During the meeting, presentations were made by Additional Chief Secretary (Public Works Department) Manisha Mhaiskar and CIDCO Managing Director Vijay Singhal.

About the Infrastructure Projects

• Approval for Metro Line 8 connectivity between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport.
• Total Metro route length: 35 km
  • Underground section: 9.25 km
  • Elevated section: 24.636 km
  • Total stations: 20
  • Underground stations: 6
  • Elevated stations: 14
• Underground stations from CSMIA Terminal 2 to Ghatkopar (East).
• Elevated stations from Govandi (West) to Navi Mumbai International Airport Terminal 2, with an average inter-station distance of 1.9 km.
• Land acquisition required: 7 hectares
• Estimated land acquisition cost: ₹388 crore
• Total project cost: ₹22,862 crore
• Construction of the Nashik city ring road in view of the Kumbh Mela:
  • Total length: 66.15 km
  • Approved project cost: ₹3,954 crore
  • Special decision to issue work orders once 50% land acquisition is completed.
• Approval for the revised 85.76 km-long Navegaon Mor–Konsari–Moolchera–Hedri–Surjagad highway in Gadchiroli district for mineral transportation, to be developed as a four-lane cement concrete highway.