Invest in Samruddhi Corridor, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis tells bankers

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government Wednesday appealed to banks and financial institutions to invest in the ambitious Nagpur-Mumbai expressway. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made the appeal while addressing a meeting of representatives of banks and financial institutions at a five-star hotel in Mumbai. [caption id=“attachment_3794073” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. PTI[/caption] The project, also called Samruddhi Corridor, is a 700-km expressway connecting Mumbai with Nagpur. During the meeting, Fadnavis also answered questions asked by the representatives. The queries related to farmers’ opposition to land acquisition for the expressway and their agitation, the project being challenged in court, bidding process and financial planning, among others, an official from the Chief Minister’s Office said. Fadnavis told the participants the project has the capacity to change the scenario of the 10 districts of Marathwada and Vidarbha through which it will pass. He said international companies will set up their industries along the corridor and 24 smart cities proposed along the route will become hubs of development. “As Samruddhi Corridor aims to bring prosperity for farmers, bankers should come forward and extend a helping hand to the project,” Fadnavis said. Officially called the Nagpur Mumbai Super Communication Expressway (NMSCE), the project is estimated to cost Rs 46,000 crore and will pass through Nagpur, Buldhana, Amravati, Wardha, Washim, Thane, Aurangabad, Akola, Bhiwandi and Nashik districts.