State public works minister Nitin Gadkari told The Financial Express that state and central governments had already cleared the proposal. He said that World Bank's Delhi office had also given its nod and a final approval was awaited from the board.

Gadkari said that this work would not be possible through the paltry Rs 400 crore provided in the annual budget. He added that improvements in state highways and national highways, construction of bridge and new expressways could not be taken up due to shortage of funds.

"The strengthening of state highways is necessary in view of mounting road accidents," Gadkari said, adding that a committee headed by former PWDsecretary SR Tambe had submitted its report identifying locations of accidents and measures to combat the problem.

Gadkari said that the World Bank was likely to clear the proposal within the next three months following which actual work would begin in six months. The public works department had carried out similar projects in Vidarbha, Marathwada and part of Western Maharashtra with a loan of Rs 900 crore in the past.

The minister said that the union ministry of forests and environment had given forest clearance for the Rs 1,016 crore Mumbai-Nashik expressway and for the Rs 1,021 crore Mumbai-Talasari expressway. The environment clearance for these two projects was awaited, he added.

The public works department has appointed Delhi-based Lasa, Kirloskar Consultants and Stup Consultants to carry out a detailed engineering study for the 104 km Mumbai-Nashik expressway. Stup Consultants, Frischmann Prabhu, and Consulting Engineering Services have been roped in to study the 104 km Mumbai-Talasariexpressway.

On the Rs 370 crore Worli-Bandra sea link, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has already paid Rs 2 lakh to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to conduct public hearing. The minister said that this had followed directives from union environment minister Suresh Prabhu. The exercise is expected to be over by March next year.

Gadkari said that MSRDC planned to offer the Rs 200 crore Panjarpol-Anik flyover in north east Mumbai on build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis to investors. The decision will be taken by the board at its next meeting.

The minister said that the Airoli-Mulund bridge and flyover at Mankhurd would be inaugurated by union home minister LK Advani on January 9. He added that work on the JJ hospital flyover in south Mumbai was likely to start within a fortnight.