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The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has opened the final 76km stretch of the 701km-long Samruddhi Mahamarg, connecting Igatpuri in Nashik to Amane in Thane. With this final phase inaugurated last week, the expressway is now fully operational, reducing the travel time between Nagpur and Mumbai to just eight hours. The six-lane expressway, which cost approximately INR 55,000 crore, spans 10 districts and connects major economic hubs and tourist destinations, while also offering significant logistical advantages for farmers, pilgrims, and industries alike.
The last leg of the 701km Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg stretching 76km from Igatpuri in Nashik to Amane in Thane was inaugurated earlier this week, thereby completing the long-anticipated Mumbai-Nagpur expressway. Officials from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) confirmed that this completion would allow seamless travel between the two cities in just eight hours, a dramatic reduction from the earlier 17 to 18-hour journey via older routes. Advertisement
Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Shri Eknath Shinde and Shri Ajit Pawar, presided over the inauguration ceremony held near Igatpuri. A newly built creek bridge in Thane was also launched virtually during the same occasion. As per MSRDC, this expressway is expected to significantly enhance connectivity for over two crore vehicles that have already used the existing operational portions of the corridor.
The expressway, with a maximum permissible speed of 120 km/h on flat stretches and 100 km/h in hilly sections, is designed to cut across varied terrains. The concluding stretch posed substantial engineering challenges as it involved traversing the rugged Sahyadri ranges. Viaducts, tunnels, and interchanges had to be constructed-making it one of the most complex phases of the project. In particular, MSRDC highlighted the Igatpuri tunnel, now the longest and widest in Maharashtra, spanning 8km in length, 17.61 metres in width, and 9.12 metres in height. A state-of-the-art fire-fighting system has also been introduced here for the first time in India.
The final stretch also includes five twin tunnels totalling 10.73km in length, 17 major valley viaducts with a combined span of over 10.56km, and three interchanges located at Igatpuri, Khutghar, and Amane. Notably, the viaducts have piers rising as high as 84 metres, demonstrating the scale and technical complexity of the construction. This phase also required extensive relocation efforts for various high and low-voltage electric lines and included the construction of a new railway overbridge.
Pilgrims headed towards Shirdi and nearby religious hubs now have a much faster travel route from the Thane-Mumbai region. Additionally, farmers from districts like Shirdi, Ahilyanagar, and Nashik will benefit from the reduced travel time when transporting perishable produce to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The expressway not only links Nagpur and Mumbai but also integrates major economic corridors like the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and critical ports such as the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority in Navi Mumbai. It also connects tourism hotspots such as the Ajanta-Ellora Caves and Lonar Lake.
The project's first three phases were progressively opened between late 2022 and early 2024. Built at a cost of around INR 55,000 crore, the expressway covers 392 villages across 26 talukas in 10 major districts. It indirectly supports connectivity across several other districts, including Chandrapur, Palghar, Dhule, and Raigad.
According to MSRDC, this landmark infrastructure will act as a powerful catalyst for the growth of agriculture, tourism, transport, industry, and MSMEs. It is expected to generate employment, reduce fuel consumption, and enhance cargo efficiency by linking Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority with MIHAN (Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur), a vital logistics and SEZ hub.
By enabling faster movement of goods, easier access to religious and tourist centres, and better opportunities for local businesses and farmers, the expressway is poised to become a cornerstone of Maharashtra's infrastructure-led growth strategy.
Source - PTI
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