NewKerala.com

Key Points

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has completed the final phase of the ambitious Samruddhi Mahamarg, connecting Nagpur and Mumbai through a 701 km expressway. The project, constructed by MSRDC, significantly reduces travel time and enhances connectivity across Maharashtra. Inaugurated in phases, the highway passes through 10 districts, 26 talukas, and 392 villages. This infrastructure marvel represents a major leap in Maharashtra's economic development and transportation infrastructure.

Key Points: Fadnavis Opens Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Mahamarg Final Phase

  • Maharashtra's longest expressway connects 12 districts through 6-lane highway
  • Project cost ₹55,335 crore spanning 10 districts
  • Reduces travel time between Nagpur and Mumbai by 50%
  • Includes 5 tunnels with longest 8 km tunnel in Nashik
3 min read

CM Fadnavis inaugurates final phase of Nagpur-Mumbai 'Samruddhi Mahamarg', says path to prosperity delivered

CM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurates 701 km expressway, reducing Nagpur-Mumbai travel time from 16 to 8 hours

"Maharashtra's path to prosperity – paved and delivered! - Devendra Fadnavis"

Igatpuri, June 5

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was accompanied by Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, on Thursday inaugurated the last phase of 76 km of Igatpuri to Aamne, Thane of the 701 km Hinduhrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg that connects Nagpur with Mumbai.

With the inauguration of the last phase of Samruddhi Highway, the entire 701 km-long road has been put into service. Now, the Nagpur-Mumbai journey can be completed in eight hours instead of 16 hours.

The distance from Igatpuri to Kasara will be covered in just 8 minutes and there are a total of 5 tunnels in this 76 km phase. Among them, the longest tunnel on the Samruddhi Highway is 8 km long is in Nashik district that starts from Igatpuri.

Before the inauguration, the Chief Minister and both the Deputy Chief Ministers travelled through the tunnel by car. The CM said: ”Maharashtra’s path to prosperity – paved and delivered!”

He further said: “A vision completed, boosting connectivity and driving sustainable growth for Maharashtra. Maharashtra’s Prosperity Lifeline: Samruddhi Mahamarg!A historic moment highlighting Maharashtra’s growth and progress through essential infrastructural development.”

The Chief Minister’s Office in a post on X said: "Dream Turns into Reality. CM Devendra Fadnavis enjoyed a drive on the 'Hinduhrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg' along with DCM Eknath Shinde and DCM Ajit Pawar. This visionary project, and brainchild of CM Devendra Fadnavis himself, stands as a symbol of Maharashtra’s progress. This historic drive witnessed the realisation of a long-cherished dream for the state.”

Commenting on their travel together in the same car, Fadnavis said, “Our car is working fine. We three work in three shifts.”

CM Fadnavis said: “We are happy that the inauguration of fourth phase and the entire stretch of 701 km of Samruddhi Mahamarg is now opened for vehicular traffic during the tenure of the MahaYuti government. Now in the next phase, the government proposes to develop Shaktipeeth Mahamarg which will completely transform the Marathwada and it will bring economic changes there. The work will begin soon on this project.”

Of the 701 km, the first phase of 520 km of the Samruddhi Mahamarg was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 11, 2023, the second phase of 80 km between Shirdi and Bharvir by ex-CM Eknath Shinde on May 26, 2023, the third phase of 25 km between Bharvir and Igatpuri by the former public works minister (MSRDC) on March 4, 2024.

The MSRDC has constructed this 701-km long access controlled expressway at a cost of Rs 55,335 crore. The six-lane expressway, which passes through 10 districts, 26 talukas and 392 villages of the state, has been completed in phases. With the commissioning of entire project, 12 districts are now connected with Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority.

In a related development, the southern section of the Thane Creek Bridge-3 project of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) that goes from Pune to Mumbai was also inaugurated by the Chief Minister through video conferencing. This section will make the Pune-Mumbai travel easier.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Finally! This is a game-changer for Maharashtra's economy. The 8-hour travel time between Mumbai and Nagpur will boost business and tourism significantly. Hope they maintain the roads properly though - we've seen many expressways deteriorate quickly. 🙏
P
Priya M.
While the infrastructure is impressive, I hope the government also focuses on safety measures. High-speed roads need proper emergency services and strict enforcement of traffic rules. Too many accidents happen on our expressways.
A
Amit S.
The 8km tunnel is an engineering marvel! 🇮🇳 This shows what India can achieve when there's political will. Now if only they could complete the Mumbai-Nagpur bullet train project with similar efficiency...
S
Sunita P.
Good development, but what about the farmers whose lands were acquired? Were they compensated fairly? Infrastructure is important, but not at the cost of people's livelihoods. The government must ensure proper rehabilitation.
V
Vikram J.
The political jibe about "three shifts" was unnecessary. Infrastructure projects should be beyond politics. That said, the expressway is truly impressive - will make my business trips to Vidarbha much easier. Hoping the toll charges remain reasonable!
N
Neha R.
As someone from Nashik, I'm thrilled about the Igatpuri-Kasara stretch! The 8-minute travel time is unbelievable compared to the current 45+ minutes. This will be a big boost for our local businesses and wine tourism. 🍷
K
Karan D.
₹55,335 crore is a

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50