Devendra Fadnavis inaugurates final stretch of Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi highway

The remaining 76-kilometre stretch of the Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, from Igatpuri to Amane, was innaugarated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday, June 5. This milestone marks the completion of a transformative infrastructure project that spans 701 kilometres, connecting 24 districts across Vidarbha, Marathwada and North Maharashtra.

The journey began with the inauguration of the first 520-kilometer segment from Nagpur to Shirdi by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 11, 2022. This was followed by the opening of the second phase, an 80-kilometer stretch from Shirdi (Kokanmathan) in Ahmednagar district to Bharvir Dhantore in Nashik district, by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on May 26, 2023. The third phase, covering 25 kilometers from Bharvir Dhantore to Hutatma Point, was launched by Public Works Minister Dada Bhuse on May 4, 2024.

A standout feature of the final 76-kilometre section, which cuts through the rugged Sahyadri mountain range across Nashik and Thane districts, is the inclusion of five double tunnels totalling 10.73 kilometres (21.46 kilometres with both carriageways). The tunnel at Panke (Igatpuri), stretching 8 kilometres, stands as Maharashtra’s longest and widest at 17.61 meters, with a height of 9.12 meters.

This final leg will enable the Igatpuri to Kasara stretch to be traversed in just eight minutes. This offers a vital alternative to the congested Kasara ghat on National Highway 3, promising smoother traffic movement.

The completion of this stretch will revolutionise travel, cutting the journey from Thane (Amane) to Nagpur to approximately eight hours. It will also enhance accessibility for commuters from Thane and Mumbai to Shirdi as well as benefit farmers in Shirdi, Ahmednagar, and the Sinnar and Igatpuri areas of Nashik by expediting the transport of agricultural goods to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Spanning 392 villages across 26 talukas in 10 revenue divisions, the six-lane highway directly links Nagpur, Wardha, Amravati, Washim, Buldhana, Jalna, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Ahmednagar, Nashik, and Thane, while indirectly connecting 14 other districts. With speed limits set at 100 kilometres per hour on inclines and 120 kilometres per hour on flat terrain, the route slashes the traditional 17-18-hour Nagpur-to-Mumbai journey to just eight hours via the new Greenfield Expressway.

Additionally, it will link Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Mumbai to Mihan in Nagpur, facilitating rapid goods transportation across India and beyond.