The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the 105 km freight corridor connecting Vadhavan Port in Palghar to the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway at Bharveer, Nashik.

The project, to be executed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), will cost Rs 4,029 crore, funded through a Rs 1,500 crore HUDCO loan and Rs 2,529 crore state provision. Completion is targeted within three years.

Vadhavan Transshipment Port, under construction by Vadhavan Port Project, is expected to become a major gateway for international water transport. Currently, reaching the port from the Samruddhi Expressway requires a detour of around 82 km. The new corridor will cut the Tawa Bharveer–Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway distance from 183.48 km to 104.898 km, reducing travel time from four-five hours to one to 1.5 hours.

Passing through Palghar and Nashik districts, the route will benefit industries, agriculture, IT companies, and agro-industrial hubs by lowering transportation costs and improving market access. Officials highlight that it will boost employment, strengthen regional connectivity, and support future large-scale traffic demands of Vadhavan Port.