9 firms bid for Rs 221cr Dwarka-Datta Mandir stretch widening work; Nashik civic body begins scrutiny

Nashik: Nine private firms have submitted bids for the Rs 221-crore project to widen the 6.4-km Dwarka Circle-Datta Mandir stretch of the Nashik-Pune highway from six to 10 lanes.

The civic body has initiated technical scrutiny, and is likely to open financial bids next week.Officials said Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) aims to finalise the contractor soon and place the proposal for work order approval before the standing committee early next month, fast-tracking the project ahead of the 2027 Simhastha Kumbh Mela.According to NMC, the tender submission deadline was June 24 and nine firms participated.

“The financial bids of eligible agencies are likely to be opened next week,” officials said, adding that the administration is prioritising the process given the corridor’s strategic importance.Parallelly, NMC has begun land acquisition to avoid delays once work is awarded. “Notices have been issued to landowners for acquisition under the construction transfer of development rights (TDR) model. Discussions will be initiated shortly, and the response so far has been encouraging,” a senior civic official said.

The project, funded by the Union ministry of road transport and highways, has already received administrative, technical and financial clearances, with officials stressing that timely land acquisition will be key to smooth execution.Around 50,000sqm of land is required for the widening. Of this, about 20,000sqm is already with NMC, and 13,500sqm belongs to govt agencies. The remaining 17,000sqm under private ownership is being acquired through TDR.

Efforts are also underway to secure transfer of govt land.The Dwarka-Datta Mandir stretch of NH 60 is one of the city’s busiest arterial roads, handling heavy intercity and intra-city traffic, including vehicles bound for Pune, Shirdi and the Sinnar industrial belt. The absence of service roads and footpaths has contributed to congestion and safety concerns.Under the plan, the road width will be expanded from about 25m to nearly 45m, with a six-lane main carriageway, two-lane service roads of 7.5m each on both sides, and 2.5m footpaths.Officials said the project will ease congestion, reduce travel time and improve safety, with a target to complete around 40% of work by March 2027 and the remaining before the first major Kumbh bathing day at the end of July 2027.