Mumbai: Motorists can soon access the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway from Bhiwandi, as the 76-km stretch between Igatpuri and Amane is expected to be completed by the end of this month. The stretch will be inaugurated in March by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, according to sources from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).
The final phase of construction includes lane marking and painting, which are expected to be completed between February 25 and 27. This indicates that the highway is close to being ready for public use. The inauguration ceremony will depend on the availability of Chief Minister Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, as confirmed by officials.
Currently, the expressway is operational from Igatpuri near Nashik to Nagpur, covering a total distance of 625 km. The opening of the 76-km Igatpuri-Amane stretch was initially delayed due to issues with government formation, but it will now be launched in its entirety. The expressway, officially named Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, spans 701 km and has been inaugurated in phases since December 2022. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first 520-km stretch from Nagpur to Shirdi, while the 105-km stretch from Shirdi to Bharvir was inaugurated by CM Shinde in May 2023.
The expressway also connects with the under-construction Mumbai-Vadodara Expressway at Amane, further improving connectivity between Mumbai, Nashik, and Gujarat. A temporary arrangement has been set up to facilitate traffic between the Mumbai-Nashik Highway and the Samruddhi Expressway.
The ambitious greenfield expressway project, which was first announced in November 2015, began construction in February 2019. It was divided into 16 packages, and toll collection is authorized for the next 40 years. While the expressway is seen as a significant infrastructure boost, there are concerns regarding the lack of wayside amenities such as food courts and rest areas, which would provide much-needed stops for long-distance drivers.
