The final leg of the Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, connecting Igatpuri to Thane, is now complete, paving the way for seamless travel between Nagpur and Mumbai. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has officially approached the state government to finalise an inauguration date, likely in early May.
This long-awaited milestone will mark the completion of the 701-kilometre access-controlled expressway, which slashes travel time between Nagpur and Mumbai from 16 hours to just 8. The MSRDC Managing Director, Anil Gaikwad, confirmed that both the expressway segment and the southbound carriageway of the Thane Creek Bridge are fully ready for launch.
Once operational, the Igatpuri-Amane section will enable vehicles from Nagpur to reach Mumbai without any interruptions, significantly improving connectivity to Navi Mumbai, Pune, and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport.
Despite previous plans to inaugurate the final 76-kilometre stretch ahead of the state assembly elections, technical challenges—especially the construction of a crucial bridge at Khardi—caused delays. Additionally, ongoing work on the Amane to Vadape connector road further postponed the launch.
While MSRDC had initially aimed for a February opening, the incomplete bridge near Vadape pushed the schedule forward. Officials now estimate that this connecting bridge will be completed within the next two months. In the meantime, traffic will be rerouted via alternative routes to manage congestion on the Thane-Vadape stretch, which remains under construction.
Built over a decade in 16 phases, the Samruddhi Mahamarg passes through 10 districts and 390 villages, including environmentally sensitive zones. The route integrates wildlife crossings, solar power plants, and EV charging stations, aligning with modern, eco-conscious infrastructure standards.
The expressway features: 33 major bridges, 274 minor bridges, 65 flyovers, 6 tunnels (including the longest at Kasara Ghat) & Speed limits designed for up to 150 km/h.
Developed at a cost of approximately Rs 55,000 crore, the project is dubbed a “super-communication corridor”, designed to boost inter-city trade, tourism, and logistics across Maharashtra.
Originally conceptualised by former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the expressway’s earlier phases were inaugurated by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and MSRDC Minister Dada Bhuse.
With the final segment ready, sources indicate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may be invited to inaugurate the project during his scheduled visit to Mumbai for the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit at BKC on 1st May.
This final phase not only completes a transformational transport corridor, but also underscores Maharashtra’s commitment to large-scale infrastructure-led development and urban-rural integration.
Source: Pune Pulse
