Final 76 Km Stretch Of Samruddhi Mahamarg To Open June 5

02 Jun 2025 CW Team

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is set to inaugurate the final 76-kilometre stretch of the Nagpur-Mumbai Super Communication Expressway on 5 June. The remaining segment between Igatpuri in Nashik and Amane in Thane will be opened to vehicular traffic on the same day, completing the 701-kilometre corridor.

Constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 11.82 billion, the final section was jointly funded by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). It features three interchanges – at Igatpuri, Kutghar (Shahapur), and Amane (Thane) – and includes the country’s longest road tunnel, stretching 7.8 kilometres.

The expressway bypasses the steep and winding Kasara Ghat on the old Mumbai-Nashik route. It reduces elevation gain from 450 to 160 metres and slashes travel time between Igatpuri and Amane from 90 minutes to just 40.

With this final stretch operational, the Rs 550 billion Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg is now fully functional. The expressway is designed for speeds of up to 150 km/h and reduces the travel time between Nagpur and Mumbai from 16 hours to eight. The route spans 10 districts, 390 villages, and comprises 33 major bridges, 274 minor bridges, 65 flyovers, and six tunnels.

The expressway was inaugurated in phases starting in December 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, followed by sections opened in 2023 and 2024 by state ministers. Initially delayed due to land acquisition challenges, the project is now seen as a transformative development initiative aimed at enhancing trade, connectivity, and economic growth across Maharashtra.

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