Maharashtra’s major infrastructure project, the 701-km Hindu-Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Samruddhi Mahamarg is about to be fully operational. The final 76-km stretch between Igatpuri (Nashik) and Amane (Thane) will be inaugurated on June 5. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will officially open the route, which will also be opened to the public for traffic on the same day.
The completion of the Rs 55,000-crore mega expressway marks a historic milestone, as the fully operational Samruddhi Mahamarg will now reduce travel time between Nagpur and Mumbai to just eight hours — cutting the earlier 16-hour journey in half.
“This is the final link, and it’s ready. The CM will inaugurate the stretch on Thursday,” confirmed Anil Gaikwad, Managing Director, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).
Built at an estimated cost of ₹1,182 crore, the final stretch of the Samruddhi Mahamarg includes three major interchanges at Igatpuri, Kutghar (Shahapur), and Amane (Thane). The highlight of this section is a 7.8-km tunnel near Kasara Ghat — the longest highway tunnel in India — which bypasses the steep, winding climbs of the old Mumbai-Nashik road. This engineering marvel significantly reduces elevation from 450 metres to 160 metres and slashes travel time on this stretch from 90 minutes to just 40 minutes.
A vision realised
Conceived by Devendra Fadnavis during his first tenure as Chief Minister, the Samruddhi Mahamarg faced initial hurdles, particularly in land acquisition. However, it eventually overcame these challenges to emerge as one of India’s most transformative road infrastructure projects. Stretching across 10 districts and 390 villages, the 701-km expressway showcases engineering prowess with 33 major bridges, 274 minor bridges, 65 flyovers, and six tunnels — truly weaving through the heart of Maharashtra.
The ambitious Samruddhi Mahamarg was developed in phases to ensure timely execution and operational efficiency:
- Phase 1 (Nagpur–Shirdi): Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2022
- Phase 2 (Shirdi–Bharvir): Opened by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in May 2023
- Phase 3 (Bharvir–Igatpuri): Inaugurated by then MSRDC Minister Dada Bhuse in March 2024
With the final Igatpuri–Amane stretch set to open on June 5, 2025, the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Samruddhi Mahamarg is now a fully operational expressway, offering a seamless, high-speed corridor built to handle speeds of up to 150 kmph. The expressway is poised to revolutionize connectivity between Nagpur and Mumbai, giving a major boost to logistics, tourism, and economic development across Maharashtra.
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