The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by PM Modi, has approved the construction of a six-lane access-controlled Greenfield High-Speed National Highway from JNPA Port (Pagote) to Chowk in Maharashtra. The project, spanning 29.219 km, will be developed under the Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) mode at a total capital cost of ₹4,500.62 crore.

The development of road connectivity to major and minor ports in India is a key focus area under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan principles. With the increasing container volume at JNPA Port and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, the need for enhanced National Highway connectivity in the region has been identified.

Currently, it takes 2-3 hours for vehicles to move from JNPA Port to the arterial Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) section of NH-48 and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway due to heavy congestion in urban areas such as Palaspe Phata, D-Point, Kalamboli Junction, and Panvel, with traffic volumes reaching approximately 1.8 lakh Passenger Car Units (PCU) per day. Following the operationalization of Navi Mumbai International Airport in 2025, the demand for direct connectivity is expected to increase further.

The newly approved project aims to address these connectivity challenges and enhance logistics efficiency between JNPA Port and Navi Mumbai International Airport. The highway alignment will commence at JNPA Port (NH 348) in Pagote village and conclude at Mumbai-Pune Highway (NH-48), while also linking the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the Mumbai-Goa National Highway (NH-66).

To facilitate smooth movement of commercial vehicles, two tunnels will be constructed through the Sahyadri hills, eliminating the need to navigate the ghat section in the hilly terrain. This design ensures high-speed travel and ease of movement for large container trucks.

The new six-lane Greenfield highway corridor is expected to significantly improve port connectivity, ensuring safe and efficient freight movement.