The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has sanctioned Rs 190 million for the relaying of the 6.5-km-long, busy Nashik Road stretch between Dwarka Chowk and Datta Mandir Chowk. This road, which is the gateway to Pune and Shirdi, is in a deplorable state. The Public Works Department (PWD) of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will undertake the work.

The officials said that the tender has been floated to award the work to the contractor, and the work would begin by January next year.

?It will take around one-and-a-half months to complete the tender process and another one month to start the work,? said officials. ?Once initiated, the work will be completed within two to three months,? said officials.

Member of parliament from Nashik, Hemant Godse, said that he has been pursuing the issue with the ministry for a long time, requesting approval for the work.