Centre approves Rs 8,528 crore for national highways in Maharashtra

The Centre has approved Rs 8,528 crore for national highway projects in Maharashtra. The decision was made at a meeting held between Union minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai on Thursday. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar skipped the meeting as he was in Pune.

Gadkari said, “Issues concerning hurdles in land acquisition coupled with forest clearances at state levels, which need to be expedited, were discussed. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will start the project only after getting all clearances and completion of 90 per cent land acquisition.” Apart from sanctioning Rs 5,801 crore for road projects, the Centre has allocated an additional amount of Rs 2,727 crore, he revealed.