The Union Cabinet has approved a ₹19,142 crore plan to develop a 374-km Greenfield highway connecting Nashik, Solapur, and Akkalkot in Maharashtra. This project is part of the Surat-Chennai high-speed corridor and is expected to reduce travel time between Surat and Chennai from 31 to 17 hours. The initiative aims to improve west-east connectivity, lower logistics costs, and create employment. Land acquisition is nearing completion, with the project expected to be bid out soon. The Cabinet also approved widening of NH-326 in Odisha.