Mumbai and Kolkata to be connected via controlled expressway by 2028

Over the past few years, there has been significant development in India's road network, which now ranks as the second largest in the world. India's infrastructure continues to progress, with plans to construct and expand national highways and high-speed corridors. Amidst this ongoing development, it has been suggested that Mumbai and Kolkata may soon have seamless access-controlled expressway connectivity. According to the latest report by Infra News India, it has been disclosed that Mumbai and Kolkata are expected to have nearly seamless access-controlled expressway connectivity by 2028. The connection is anticipated to be established through a couple of upcoming expressways linking various cities between the two metropolises. The four major expressways involved are the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway, the Nagpur-Bhandara-Gondia Expressway, the Raipur-Dhanbad Economic Corridor, and the Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway. However, the connectivity between Bhandara and Raipur will still be incomplete. Consequently, the remaining route will essentially comprise a seamless access-controlled expressway. Although the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has not yet confirmed the proposal, speculation arises following the proposal of the Nagpur-Bhandara-Gondia Expressway, also known as the Eastern Maharashtra Expressway, as reported by Curly Tales. The Eastern Maharashtra Expressway, spanning 127 kilometers, will extend from the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway, connecting the districts of Nagpur, Bhadra, and Gondia, and reducing travel time between Nagpur and Gondia to approximately two hours. Currently, the journey between the two destinations takes 4 to 5 hours. If there is a formal announcement and the expressway receives approval, travel between Mumbai and Kolkata will become significantly easier and less time-consuming than it is now.