Maharashtra urges Centre to upgrade 3000 km state highways to NH

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday asked the central government to convert the 3000 km of the road on its seven state highways into the national highway (NH) category.

"The state government has sent a proposal to the Centre to convert the stretch of 3000 km road to national highway," deputy chief minister Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil told reporters here.

He said vehicles entering the state via seven state highways connecting Dhule, Baroda, Solapur, Kolhapur and Nagpur have increased.

These highways need to be expanded and maintained properly, the deputy chief minister said adding, the state government has sought central help for it.

Patil said the 670 km stretch of the state highway connecting Kalyan, Ahmednagar, Nagpur, Beed, Parbhani, Visakhapatnam has now been converted into National Highway no 222.

The deputy chief minister also said the state government has undertaken various road construction projects under Maharashtra Road Development Authority (MRDA) with an estimated expenses of Rs 1,500 crore.

The state government would be improving the four roads with total stretch of around 2000 km through which the `palkhis' go to Pandharpur from various parts of the state, he added.