“India needs better infrastructure to drive economic growth,” says the government. But at what cost? A new ₹4,500.62 crore six-lane Greenfield Highway project connecting JNPA Port to Chowk in Maharashtra has sparked both celebration and concern.
The Project That Promises to Redefine Freight Logistics
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recently approved the construction of a 29.2 km access-controlled high-speed national highway connecting JNPA (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority) Port near Pagote village to Chowk in Maharashtra. Developed under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) model, the project is expected to transform how freight is moved in and out of India’s busiest container port.
Construction of a 6-lane access controlled Greenfield Highway from JNPA Port to Chowk in Maharashtra, approved by the cabinet.
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) March 19, 2025
🛣️ Total Distance: 29 km
🛣️ Mode: Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT)
🛣️ Total Cost: Rs. 4,500 Crore pic.twitter.com/gRyo41fik6
Touted as a cornerstone of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the highway aligns with India’s ambition to integrate infrastructure planning, ensuring faster cargo movement, seamless port connectivity, and ultimately, economic prosperity.
But is the road ahead as smooth as it seems?
What the Government Envisions
The government’s case is clear: freight bottlenecks must go. Currently, transporting goods from JNPA Port to NH-48 or the Mumbai–Pune Expressway can take 2–3 hours, thanks to traffic snarls in congested urban zones like Kalamboli Junction, Panvel, and Palaspe Phata. With traffic peaking at around 1.8 lakh Passenger Car Units (PCU) per day, the situation is unsustainable—especially with the Navi Mumbai International Airport set to open in 2025.
The solution? A high-speed, six-lane corridor equipped with two tunnels through the Sahyadri hills, avoiding treacherous ghat sections and making it easier for large container trucks to move swiftly and safely.
According to NHAI regional manager Anshumali Shrivastav, the new highway is poised to streamline the movement of over 10,000 multi-axle container trucks that currently rely on fragmented, overloaded road networks. Once operational, the project is expected to slash travel time between Mumbai and the Mumbai-Goa Highway to just 20–30 minutes via the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Atal Setu).
The project’s initial 30 km stretch is scheduled to be completed within 30 months, with construction starting in the next 7 months.
Breaking Down the Bigger Picture
This highway isn’t just about speed—it’s part of a larger narrative. India’s infrastructure development push, through the Gati Shakti Plan, is attempting to lay down integrated logistics corridors that connect ports, highways, airports, and economic hubs. With JNPA handling nearly half of India’s container cargo, improving its access routes is critical to competitiveness.
Moreover, the highway is expected to stimulate regional growth by improving connectivity to rural and semi-urban Maharashtra, especially near Navi Mumbai and Pune.
But Here’s the Other Side of the Story…
While the project’s benefits are being touted in glowing terms, several unanswered questions and challenges remain.
1. Environmental Impact
Constructing tunnels through the Sahyadri hills, a biologically rich and ecologically sensitive region, is likely to disrupt local flora and fauna. Activists are already questioning whether a proper Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been conducted and made public. Greenfield projects, by definition, cut through undeveloped lands, often leading to habitat fragmentation, deforestation, and loss of biodiversity.
2. Land Acquisition and Displacement
While officials remain tight-lipped, land acquisition in densely populated and agriculturally important areas often leads to displacement of local communities and disruption of livelihoods. Resistance from locals, especially those without formal land titles, is a common hurdle in projects of this magnitude.
3. Viability of the BOT Model
The Build, Operate and Transfer mode relies on private players investing upfront and recovering costs via tolls. Critics argue that BOT highways often result in high toll rates, making them less accessible for smaller logistics firms and everyday commuters. Moreover, past BOT projects in India have struggled due to low traffic projections, delays, and financial unviability.
4. Urban Congestion May Not Disappear
While the highway promises to decongest key city roads, experts warn that simply creating new roads may not reduce congestion unless matched with urban planning reforms, better public transport, and last-mile logistics solutions.
Strategic or Symbolic?
There’s no doubt that India’s infrastructure needs bold, strategic interventions. This project, with its focus on multi-modal integration, checks many boxes on paper. But critics caution against viewing roads purely through the lens of speed and scale.
“Infrastructure is not just about concrete and steel. It’s about people, ecosystems, and long-term viability,” notes one urban planner based in Navi Mumbai.
Where It Stands
The ₹4,500 crore JNPA–Chowk Greenfield Highway project is both ambitious and controversial. It offers a vision of rapid economic integration and logistical efficiency, while simultaneously raising red flags about environmental sustainability, social costs, and economic fairness.
India’s infrastructure story is still being written. Whether this highway becomes a model of modern planning or a cautionary tale of misplaced priorities will depend on how transparently, inclusively, and sustainably it’s executed.
FAQ
1. What is the JNPA–Chowk Greenfield Highway project?
It is a newly approved six-lane, access-controlled highway connecting JNPA Port to Chowk, Maharashtra, spanning 29.2 km and built under the BOT model at ₹4,500.62 crore.
2. Why is this highway important?
The highway aims to reduce travel time, improve port connectivity, and support the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport by easing logistics and decongesting urban traffic.
3. How will it impact traffic in the region?
It is expected to reduce travel time from JNPA to NH-48 and the Mumbai–Goa Highway significantly, benefiting over 10,000 daily heavy vehicles.
4. What is the environmental concern?
The project involves tunnel construction through the Sahyadri hills, which may impact biodiversity and raise concerns about deforestation and habitat loss.
5. When will the project be completed?
Construction is expected to begin in the next 7 months, with the initial 30 km stretch targeted for completion within 30 months.
6. Who is funding this project?
It will be developed under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) model, involving private investment for construction and toll-based cost recovery.
7. Will toll prices be high?
Toll pricing under the BOT model can be higher to ensure private profitability, which may burden small logistics operators and commuters.
8. How does it align with PM Gati Shakti?
It supports integrated planning by linking ports, highways, and airports, making freight movement faster and more efficient under the Gati Shakti initiative.
