Fadnavis Proposes 701-km Freight Rail Corridor Linking JNPT, Vadhvan Ports With Samruddhi Expressway

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has proposed a dedicated rail freight corridor to connect major ports such as Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) and the upcoming Vadhvan Port with the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg (Samruddhi Expressway). He said the project would sharply cut logistics costs and integrate more of the state into global supply chains.

Speaking at the inauguration of Jabil’s new manufacturing facility in Pune, Fadnavis outlined a vision for a 701-km rail corridor running alongside the Samruddhi Expressway, where right-of-way for a railway line has already been reserved. The network would link the ports to inland dry ports at Jalna and Wardha and further extend to Gadchiroli, which he described as “the new steel city of India”.

Fadnavis said the corridor could help bring down logistics costs to 7–8% of product value, from higher current levels, boosting the competitiveness of industries located across Maharashtra. Improved port–hinterland connectivity via the rail corridor would allow nearly 75% of the state to directly access dedicated port infrastructure and plug into international trade corridors.