Prime Minister Narendra Modi will, through video conferencing at 3:30pm on Monday, lay the foundation stone for four-laning of two key roads in Maharashtra: five sections of Shri Sant Dnyaneshshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg (National Highway 965) and three sections of Shri Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg (NH-965G). The project will be undertaken to facilitate people's movement to the pilgrimage town of Pandharpur in the western state, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) noted in a press release.
“Pandharpur has a special place in the hearts and minds of many. The Temple there draws people from all sections of society, from all over India. I will join a programme relating to Pandharpur's infra needs,” PM Modi said in a tweet on Sunday.
Under the project, 221 km and 130 km of Shri Sant Dnyaneshshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg and Shri Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg, respectively, will be four-laned. This will be done at an estimated cost of more than ₹11,000 crore: ₹6600 crore for the former, and ₹4400 crore for the latter. Also, four-laning will be done for the Diveghat-Mohol stretch of Shri Sant Dnyaneshshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg, and from Patas-Tondale for Shri Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg.
{{/usCountry}}Under the project, 221 km and 130 km of Shri Sant Dnyaneshshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg and Shri Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg, respectively, will be four-laned. This will be done at an estimated cost of more than ₹11,000 crore: ₹6600 crore for the former, and ₹4400 crore for the latter. Also, four-laning will be done for the Diveghat-Mohol stretch of Shri Sant Dnyaneshshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg, and from Patas-Tondale for Shri Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg.
{{/usCountry}}The ceremony will also see PM Modi dedicate to the nation more than 223 km of completed and upgraded road projects, which were built at an estimated cost of ₹1180 crore at various NHs for connectivity to the temple town. These include Mhaswad-Piliv-Pandharpur (NH 548E); Kurduwadi-Pandharpur (NH 965C); Pandharpur-Sangola (NH 965C); Tembhurni-Pandharpur NH 561A); and Pandharpur-Mangalwedha -Umadi (NH 561A).
Besides PM Modi, Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray will also be present at the event.