Mumbai-Nagpur expressway now operational, cuts travel time by 10 hours

Newly constructed Samruddhi Expressway which connects from Nashik to Mumbai scheduled to be inaugurated in next few months. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the final leg of the Samruddhi Expressway on Thursday. He said the project is an “economic corridor of Maharashtra’s prosperity.” With the 76 km final stretch now open, the 701 km Mumbai-Nagpur corridor is fully functional and will reduce travel time from 18 hours to eight hours.

Samruddhi Expressway is officially called the Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg. Mr. Fadnavis said the project was an engineering marvel and would take ports driven development to every corner of the State. “The road will open up new avenues since 24 districts of Maharashtra have been connected with JNPT port and will soon be connected to Vadhavan port also, which is coming up near Mumbai,” he added.

Highlighting the benefit to industry, Mr. Fadnavis said, “GAIL has been laying a gas pipeline along the expressway, providing gas to industries from Konkan to Gadchiroli. When Gadchiroli becomes a steel city, I hope gas is used instead of coal.”

The final stretch is located between Igatpuri in Nashik district and Thane district’s Amane region. According to the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRDC), a mountainous stretch between Igatpuri and Amane has five tunnels, with a combined length of 11 km, including the longest tunnel in Maharashtra at 7.78 km in Igatpuri. The tunnel will help cut travel time between Igatpuri and Kasara to 8 minutes, navigating the challenging Kasara Ghat. The stretch also includes the longest viaduct, 2.28 km, and an 84-meter-high bridge.

The Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, said that the project cost had increased from an initial ₹55,335 crores to ₹61, 000 crores.

Rapid industrialisation

Mr. Fadnavis claimed that the open stretches of Samruddhi Mahamarg had recorded an increase in traffic, from 2 lakh vehicles in December 2022 to 10 lakh in May 2025. He also stated that the expressway will boost economic growth, create opportunities for industry, and provide better connectivity throughout the State.

Speaking at the inauguration event in Nashik, Eknath Shinde called the project a “game changer” because it promotes an eco-friendly approach, along with development. “392 villages will benefit, and Vidharbha will witness rapid industrialisation. The MSRDC has taken care of every detail, avoiding disruption to the movements of animals, generating solar power, increasing water levels, and planting at least 33 lakh trees,” he said.

The expressway features 1,903 engineering structures, 32 major bridges, 317 small bridges, eight overpasses, 92 underpasses for animals, 25 interchanges, and eight bridges on railway lines. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of the expressway on 11 December.

Shaktipeeth ‘will happen’

Despite opposition from farmers in at least 12 districts, the Maharashtra government once again reiterated that the Shaktipeeth highway project will be implemented on the lines of the Samruddhi expressway. Mr. Fadnavis and Mr. Shinde pointed out that the Shaktipeet will transform Marathwada.

“Samruddhi Expressway faced similar opposition; we were also sceptical whether the project would take shape; today we have done it. Similarly, Shaktipeet will change Marathwada and benefit farmers from Western Maharashtra to Konkan,” said Mr. Eknath Shinde, adding that land acquisition for this project was completed within record time. Mr. Pawar said, “Initially, farmers opposed the project. Once the government declared compensation, they came around. At least 8,800 acres of land are being utilised for the project.”

Published - June 06, 2025 02:42 am IST