Centre clears six-lane elevated corridor on NH-48 in Kagal to ease congestion

The Centre has approved the construction of a six-lane elevated corridor on National Highway 48 at Kagal in Maharashtra, a project aimed at addressing persistent congestion on a key industrial and freight route. Estimated to cost ₹358 crore, the corridor will include service roads and provisions designed to improve traffic flow in flood-prone stretches.

The approval underscores the continued focus on upgrading highway infrastructure in regions that serve as logistics backbones. Kagal, with its proximity to industrial clusters, has witnessed rising vehicular pressure, particularly from commercial traffic, leading to delays and safety concerns.

Officials expect the elevated stretch to streamline movement through the bottleneck while reducing travel time for both passenger and freight vehicles. The inclusion of service roads is intended to separate local and through traffic, a measure that has often been lacking in earlier highway designs.

As with similar projects, timely execution will be critical. Delays in land acquisition and on-ground coordination have in the past affected highway upgrades, raising questions on delivery timelines. The project’s impact will ultimately be measured by its ability to ease congestion without creating new pressure points along adjoining stretches.