The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has commenced the third phase of the expansion of the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway, expansion which will link the districts of Bhandara, Gondia, and Gadchiroli.
The third phase will involve the construction of three distinct sections. MSRDC has floated a tender for an access-controlled expressway from Nagpur to Gondia, spanning 127 kilometers, with an estimated cost of Rs 7,345 crore. Additionally, a 28-kilometer stretch linking Bhandara to Gondia will be constructed at a cost of Rs 1,587 crore, while a 194-kilometer stretch from Nagpur to Chandrapur will be built at Rs 9,543.2 crore.
According to MSRDC, the aim of expanding the Samruddhi Mahamarg is to reduce travel time in the eastern districts of Maharashtra, thereby unlocking new opportunities with the financial capital Mumbai.
The Samruddhi corridor is 700 km long, connecting Mumbai to Nagpur. Only a 600-km stretch of the corridor from Nagpur to Bharvir in Igatpuri is open for traffic. Work was progressing on the remaining 101 km stretch, with its opening slated for July this year.
The MSRDC had earlier planned the second phase of the corridor’s expansion connecting the districts of Jalna, Parbhani and Nanded through a 180-km link to be built at a cost of Rs 19,000 crore.