The state Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, authorised a revised alignment for the forthcoming Nagpur–Chandrapur Motorway, bringing Maharashtra one step closer to resolving long-standing connectivity and congestion challenges. The decision, taken on Tuesday, incorporates detailed suggestions from the Centre’s Gati Shakti Portal and reflects the state’s push to streamline infrastructure planning, reduce bottlenecks and accelerate urban mobility solutions across key regions.

The new alignment stretches 204 km and will link the Seldoh Interchange on the Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg to Navegaon (Mor) on the Durg–Hyderabad National Highway.

Officials said the refinement came after the Centre recommended route optimisation through the Gati Shakti Portal, ensuring smoother integration with existing corridors and reducing land-related hurdles.

The committee also cleared an extension of the deadline for the privatisation and development of several state-owned land parcels in Mumbai.

The plots are located in:

• Ghatkopar East
• Chembur
• Andheri (West)
• Ambivali Mudran Kamgar Nagar
• Chunabhatti

These parcels have been identified as high-potential commercial and redevelopment zones, and the extension is expected to give private developers more time to meet the state’s compliance requirements.

Highlighting the worsening traffic situation in parts of Pune, Chief Minister Fadnavis directed departments to immediately work on congestion relief along the Hadapsar–Yavat stretch. He emphasised that all measures—including road upgrades or an elevated corridor—must be planned in a way that minimises disruption to residents. He also instructed agencies to take urgent steps to resolve the chronic bottleneck near Bhairoba Nala, which has been a persistent complaint among commuters.

Reiterating the state’s renewed focus on coordinated planning, Fadnavis ordered that every ongoing and proposed infrastructure project must secure approval from the Gati Shakti Portal before being brought to the Committee.

Officials said the rule aims to eliminate duplication, ensure inter-department coordination, and improve execution timelines.

The Chief Minister also unveiled ‘Zebru’, a new mascot designed for Maharashtra’s statewide road-safety awareness programme. Fadnavis said the mascot is intended to make the campaign more visible and impactful, especially among schoolchildren and pedestrians.

“Road Safety is Life Safety must become a public mantra,” he said, urging citizens to follow traffic rules and participate actively in the campaign. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik added that ‘Zebru’ would travel across the state as a symbol of pedestrian rights and safe mobility. The initiative aligns with the government’s plan to prioritise pedestrian safety and curb fatalities on busy urban corridors. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has also asked the Urban Development Department to prepare clear regulations for the removal of footpath encroachments, while ensuring that pedestrian railings are not taken down indiscriminately.