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Companies from China, Russia, Italy, Korea, Kuwait and Singapore are also in the fray for mega project. Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has received pre-qualification applications from 33 companies for constructing the proposed Nagpur Mumbai Super Communication Expressway (NMSCE). Of these 33 companies, 17 are sole applicants while rest are JVs. The applications were invited by MSRDC in January 2017. In all 21 Indian companies have submitted the applications. Four companies from China, two from Russia, two from Turkey and one each from Italy, Kuwait, Korea and Singapore are also in the fray. MSRDC has divided construction of the 700-km expressway, called as Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, into 16 packages for efficiency. The Indian companies that have shown interest in the project include Hindustan Construction Company, Larsen & Toubro, Reliance Infrastructure, Gammon India, Ashoka Buildcon, Gayatri Projects, Simplex Infrastructure, etc. Expressing happiness over the overwhelming response, Radheshyam Mopalwar, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, MSRDC, said, “The expression of interest from global players has re-affirmed their faith in the ambitious project and that it will bring prosperity to the state of Maharashtra. This also belies the allegations that the Corporation framed certain conditions to favour select companies.� Kiran Kurundkar, Joint Managing Director, MSRDC, said, “We have received a very good response. We are currently scrutinising the applications and expect to issue the work order soon.� MSRDC has decided to commence the construction of Expressway from October 1, 2017, and complete it by October 2019. The Rs 46,000 crore project will connect 10 districts, 26 talukas and 392 villages. It will help state prosper through a holistic process that integrates road connectivity with sustainable rural development through agri-business ecosystem and multidimensional sub-projects. This process, in turn, will help generate employment, fuel growth in agriculture and related activities, promote eco-tourism, lay foundation for robust infrastructure and contain rural migration for overall development of the state. The greenfield project will have access control while its design and alignment is prepared as per International Road Congress (IRC) standards. Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg will not only connect Nagpur and Mumbai, but also reduce current travel time of 18 hours between the two cities to half.