Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis formally inaugurated the final 76-kilometre stretch of the Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg on Thursday, marking the completion of the ambitious 701-kilometre high-speed corridor between Nagpur and Mumbai.
The event, held in Igatpuri—around 140 km from Mumbai—was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, along with senior state ministers Dada Bhuse, Shivendraraje Bhosale, and Narhari Zirwal. The final leg of the expressway connects Igatpuri in Nashik district to Amane in Bhiwandi taluka, Thane district. With this, the entire six-lane, access-controlled greenfield expressway is now complete, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) confirmed.
Mumbai to Nagpur in 8 Hours
The expressway slashes the travel time between Nagpur and Mumbai from the earlier 17–18 hours to just 8 hours, thanks to its design for high-speed travel. Vehicles can cruise at up to 120 km/h on flat terrains and 100 km/h in hilly regions, providing a faster and more efficient alternative to existing routes.
Stretching across 392 villages in 26 talukas and 10 districts, the Samruddhi Mahamarg is expected to be a game-changer for Maharashtra’s transportation and economic landscape, offering a direct and modern corridor between two key cities.
Leaders Inspect Key Infrastructure
After the inauguration, CM Fadnavis, along with DCMs Shinde and Pawar, toured significant features of the expressway, including the project’s longest tunnel near Igatpuri and its adjoining viaduct. In a symbolic gesture, Shinde drove a luxury vehicle with Fadnavis in the front passenger seat and Pawar in the rear for a 45-minute inspection ride to Amane. On the return journey, Fadnavis took over the wheel.
Phased Launch Timeline
Developed at an estimated cost of ₹55,000 crore, the Samruddhi Expressway was opened in phases:
- Phase 1 (520 km): Nagpur to Shirdi, inaugurated on December 11, 2022, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Phase 2 (80 km): Shirdi to Bharvir Interchange, opened on May 26, 2023.
- Phase 3 (25 km): Bharvir to Igatpuri, operational since March 4, 2024.
- Final Phase (76 km): Igatpuri to Amane, inaugurated on June 5, 2025.
Since its partial launch, more than two crore vehicles have used the expressway, highlighting its growing acceptance among commuters and logistics operators.
Officials said the newly opened stretch will be accessible to the public shortly, completing one of India’s most significant infrastructure projects in recent years.
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