New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has approved a series of high-value national highway and connectivity projects spanning Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana and Assam, aimed at easing congestion, improving freight mobility, strengthening tribal and industrial connectivity, and accelerating regional economic growth. Together, the projects involve investments of over ₹29,700 crore and are expected to generate substantial employment during construction.

Maharashtra: NH-160A upgradation to decongest Nashik region

A ₹3,320.38-crore project will rehabilitate and upgrade the Ghoti–Trimbak (Mokhada)–Jawhar–Manor–Palghar stretch of NH-160A across 154.6 km under EPC mode.
The corridor will provide an alternative freight route from industrial clusters around Nashik, reducing pressure on existing highways operating near capacity. Sections with rising traffic demand will be widened to four lanes, while other stretches will be upgraded to two lanes with paved shoulders.

The project will enhance connectivity to the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, Samruddhi Mahamarg, NH-48 and NH-848, while linking tribal regions, tourist destinations and logistics hubs. It is projected to generate nearly 45 lakh person-days of employment and lower travel time and vehicle operating costs.

Gujarat: ₹4,583-crore NH-56 four-laning to boost tribal connectivity

In Gujarat, the Cabinet approved four-lane construction of 107.67 km across the Dhamasiya–Bitada/Movi and Nasarpore–Malotha sections of NH-56 under Hybrid Annuity Mode.
The corridor will pass through tribal-dominated districts and improve access to the Statue of Unity tourism zone while enabling faster regional movement. Designed for 100 km/h speeds, the project is expected to cut travel time by about 40% and generate more than 42 lakh man-days of employment.

Completion of ongoing adjoining packages will create seamless four-lane connectivity from Bodeli to Malotha, improving links with major national highways and the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway.

Telangana: NH-167 widening to strengthen Hyderabad–Panaji corridor

A ₹3,175.08-crore project will widen the Gudebellur–Mahabubnagar section of NH-167 to four lanes over 80 km.
The upgrade addresses congestion and poor road geometry across densely populated towns, improving freight efficiency and reducing logistics costs in Narayanpet and Mahabubnagar districts.
The corridor integrates with other national highways and multiple economic, social and logistics nodes, and is expected to create over 32 lakh person-days of employment.

Assam: India’s first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel approved

The Cabinet also cleared a landmark ₹18,662-crore greenfield connectivity project between Gohpur (NH-15) and Numaligarh (NH-715) featuring a 15.79-km twin-tube underwater road-cum-rail tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra—the first such tunnel in India and among the longest globally.
The project will drastically cut the current 6-hour, 240-km surface journey, enhance multi-modal connectivity across the North-East, and support freight movement, tourism and strategic mobility.
It is expected to generate about 80 lakh person-days of employment while linking highways, railway lines, airports and inland waterways across Assam and neighbouring states.

Overall, the approved highway initiatives align with the PM GatiShakti framework, targeting logistics efficiency, regional inclusion and long-term economic expansion.