Like a river carving new paths, India’s highways continue to reshape the landscape of connectivity, bridging states and speeding journeys.
Chennai–Surat Highway Corridor Truncated to Nashik Amid Land and Environmental Hurdles
The proposed six-lane Chennai–Surat National Highway corridor under the Bharatmala Pariyojana has been shortened, with the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways deciding to realign the project from Chennai to Nashik instead of Surat. The change comes amid major land acquisition challenges between Surat and Nashik and delays in securing environmental clearances.
Originally, the expressway was planned as a 1,271-km corridor connecting Surat to Chennai at an estimated cost of ₹50,000 crores, passing through Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Under the revised plan, the total length will be approximately 900 km, truncating the northern section beyond Nashik. The highway was initially divided into two sections: 513 km from Surat to Solapur and 707 km from Solapur to Chennai.
MSRDC to Build Greenfield Expressway from Samruddhi to NH-48, Boosting Central–Southern Connectivity
In the new alignment, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will construct a greenfield expressway from Bharvir Khurd on the Samruddhi Expressway to Tawa village on NH-48 (Mumbai–Ahmedabad Highway). This corridor is expected to serve the same strategic purpose that the Surat–Nashik segment of the original expressway was designed to fulfil.
Despite the truncation, officials emphasize that the expressway’s core objectives remain intact. The six-lane, access-controlled highway will continue to allow vehicles to travel at speeds of up to 120 kmph, significantly enhancing long-distance connectivity between central and southern India. Once completed, the corridor will reduce travel time, decongest existing roads, and strengthen freight and passenger movement across multiple states.
Though its path has been reshaped, the expressway promises to weave a faster, smoother thread across India’s heartlands, stitching cities and states closer than ever before.
Summary
The Chennai–Surat expressway under Bharatmala Pariyojana has been realigned to run from Chennai to Nashik, reducing its length from 1,271 km to 900 km due to land acquisition and environmental clearance issues. The six-lane, access-controlled corridor will allow speeds of 120 kmph, improving connectivity between central and southern India, with MSRDC handling the Nashik segment.
