Brief Note for Missing Link of Yashwantrao Chavan Mumbai Pune Expressway Project
The Mumbai Pune Expressway is presently of 6-lane cement concrete pavement with 2.5m wide paved shoulder on both sides having a length of 94 kms. National Highway No. 4 from Shil Phata to Dehu Road is a 4-lane bituminous pavement with a length of 111 kms.
Mumbai-Pune Expressway and NH-4 meet near Khalapur Toll Plaza and separate near Khandala exit. The section from Adoshi Tunnel to Khandala exit is a 6-lane road but the traffic of 10-lane road (6-lane of Mumbai-Pune Expressway + 4-lane of NH-4) is plying in this section. Heavy amount of traffic and landslides causes congestion in this stretch. Due to decrease in speed and increase in time of travel in this section & in order to save time, vehicles move at a faster speed on rest of the expressway which has resulted in increase in number of accidents.
In 1995, M/s. RITES had carried out feasibility studies for the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and has suggested an alternate route for this Ghat Section. MSRDC had appointed a Technical Advisory Committee in order to review the Detailed Project Report submitted by Consultant.
Accordingly, as per suggestions of Technical Advisory Committee alignment of the Missing Link along with Detailed Project Report approved by Technical Advisory Committee.
The length of existing Mumbai Pune Expressway section from Khopoli exit to Sinhgad Institute is presently 19 kms. This distance will be reduced to 13.3 kms after construction of this new missing link. So, the total length of Expressway from Mumbai to Pune will be decreased by 6kms. Travel time will be reduced by 20-25 mins.
In the meeting held on 13.06.2017, Cabinet Sub Committee of Infrastructure has approved proposal of the work as follows (as per the minutes issued vide letter पासूस-2017/प्र.क्र.01/का 1461 dated 15.07.2017).
Approval was granted for the execution of work on EPC mode for the estimated cost of Rs. 4,797.57 Crores (Based on schedule of rates of 2015-16).
Special Purpose Vehicle may be formed (if necessary) and required funds be raised by Corporation. Rate of interest of borrowed funds + 2% was sanctioned as IRR for meeting the expenditure on construction cost, maintenance, repairs & operations expenditure on existing expressway, missing link during concession period. Concession period of 15 years from 2030 to 2045 was sanctioned. Actual traffic and toll collection be reviewed after 10 years (if necessary) and concession period be revised accordingly.
In 137th meeting dated 24.08.2018, State Environmental Impact Access Authority (SEIAA) granted environmental clearance for this project. Forest diversion proposal of 74.7102 ha. submitted to Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Nodal Officer, Nagpur, Maharashtra state on 06.09.2018.
M/s. Geodata-LB Consortium was appointed as General Consultant for this project vide work order dated 26.12.2017. For execution purpose the project is divided in two packages Package-I consist of eight lane two tunnels of length 1.75 km and 8.92 km respectively and Package-II consist of eight lane two viaducts of length 790 m. and 650 m. respectively and Capacity Augmentation (6 lane to 8 lane) of existing Mumbai Pune Expressway from Khalapur Toll Plaza to Khopoli Exit (6.5 km).
Letter of Acceptance was issued to EPC contractor M/s. Navayuga Engineering Co. Ltd. for Package-I and M/s. Afcons Infrastructure Ltd. for Package-II on 30.08.2018.