L&T, J Kumar Infra, NCC: Infrastructure and EPC stocks in spotlight as Maharashtra clears ₹28,227 crore projects

Shares of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), NCC, J Kumar Infraprojects, Afcons Infrastructure and Titagarh Rail Systems are expected to remain in focus on Wednesday, August 19, as the Maharashtra government on Tuesday approved the Metro Line 13, a 25-km-long corridor with 16 stations connecting Mira-Bhayandar with Vasai-Virar on Mumbai's outskirts.

The estimated cost of the project is ₹17,724.99 crore.

In another major decision around infrastructure, the government sanctioned a revised project cost of ₹10,502.36 crore for the eastern expansion of the Pune Ring Road, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.

The 25.03-km Metro Line 13 will pass through Thane and Palghar districts and will be implemented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), an official release said.

Of the total route, 21.78 km will be elevated and 3.25 km underground. The corridor will have 16 stations -- 13 elevated and three underground, it said.

Key details

The project also includes a 4.92-km integrated six-lane road-and-metro bridge over Vasai Creek connecting Panju Island.

A metro depot has been proposed at Chikhal Dongari in Palghar district.

The line will connect Mira Road, Vasai, Nalasopara, Naigaon and Virar, all parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). It will also provide connectivity to suburban railway stations at Naigaon, Nalasopara and Virar and is proposed to connect with Metro Line 9 at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Ground in Mira Bhayandar.

Bus services at all metro stations are also planned. About 24.84 hectares of land will be required for the metro project, which is targeted for completion within five years of approval, said the release.

Fadnavis directed authorities to complete land acquisition and access roads within the next six months.

Once completed, the line is expected to carry around 4.49 lakh passengers daily by 2031. The project is expected to reduce travel time by about 50% compared to road travel, reduce dependence on private vehicles and traffic density on major national highways, and lower carbon emissions, said the release.

The Metro Line 13 will also improve connectivity between Vasai-Virar, Mira-Bhayandar and Mumbai suburbs, besides strengthening links with industrial and logistics centres, the chief minister said.

The Infrastructure Committee also gave administrative approval to the revised project cost of ₹10,502.36 crore for the eastern expansion of the Pune Ring Road. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will implement the project.

The expansion covers a 31.805-km access-controlled expressway from Sortapwadi (Valti) on the Pune-Solapur road to Varve (Budruk)-Shivare on the Pune-Satara road. The ring road is aimed at diverting inter-state and inter-city traffic outside Pune, thereby reducing congestion within the city, according to the release.

The entire project is 168.981-km-long and will form an integrated access-controlled corridor once continuity of the full route is ensured. About 80% of the land acquisition has been completed, and the project is targeted for completion by June 2029, it said.

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