Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, inaugurated three National Highways (NH) projects worth Rs 3,695 crore at Washim in Maharashtra.
The four-lane National Highway 161 from Akola in Maharashtra to Sangareddy in Telangana becomes important in strengthening the trade relations between the two states.
Many important places in Akola, Washim, Nanded, and Hingoli districts will now be connected. It will be easy and accessible to reach religious and tourist places like Shegavche Gajanan Maharaj Temple, Akola Shahnoor Fort, Antriksh Jain Temple, Eighth Jyotirling Aundha-Naganath, Sant Namdev Maharaj Sansthan, Narsi, and Takht Sachkhand Gurudwara in Nanded.
Divided into a total of three packages, the first package on the highway from Akola to Medshi or 48 km, costing Rs 1,259 crore, has four air pools, 10 underpasses, and 85 culverts.
The second package from Medshi to Washim or 45 km, costing Rs 1,394 crore, includes 13 bus shelters, 6-lane ROB, and Washim city bypass.
Also, under the third package from Pangre to Warangafata, a length of 42 km, and costing Rs 1,042 crore, the main bridge over Kayadhu river, Kalamanuri, and Akhara-Balapur city bypass are included.
In the construction work of Sadar National Highway 161 under the ‘Amrit Sarovar’ scheme, ponds in Savargaon Barde, Jhodga Khurd, Chivra, Amani, Saikheda, or other villages were opened and the soil and sand obtained from it were used for construction of the road.
In the last nine years, 227 km of highway network has been constructed in Washim district connecting Vidarbha and Marathwada.