Mumbai, India — The wait is finally over for quicker, safer, and more efficient travel in Maharashtra. The long-awaited last phase of the Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg will open on May 1, Maharashtra Day. The 76-km section between Igatpuri and Amane (on the outskirts of Thane) will be inaugurated, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to open the route during his Mumbai visit for the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit at BKC.
Once completed, the 701-km Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway will cut down travel time between Mumbai and Nagpur by a whopping extent — from approximately 16 hours to merely 8 hours. The Nashik to Mumbai journey, now always regarded as a time-consuming endeavor, will take only two and a half hours — a blessing for commuters and logistics alike.
This last section is most remarkable for its engineering innovations. It has five tunnels measuring 11 km in total, of which India’s longest and broadest tunnel measures 7.8 km. The tunnel avoids the difficult Kasara Ghat section, shortening the journey from Igatpuri to Kasara from almost an hour to only 8 minutes.
Apart from the convenience, the expressway is planned to conserve fuel, cut down vehicular traffic, and spur economic growth in Maharashtra’s western districts by improving connectivity.
Samruddhi Mahamarg Key Inauguration Timeline:
- December 11, 2022: Phase 1 (Nagpur to Shirdi, 520 km) inaugurated by PM Modi.
- Subsequent Months: Phase 2 (Shirdi to Bharvir Interchange, 80 km) inaugurated by CM Eknath Shinde.
- March 4, 2024: Phase 3 (Bharvir Interchange to Igatpuri, 25 km) opened.
- May 1, 2025: Last Phase (Igatpuri to Amane, 76 km) to be opened.
First conceptualized in 2014 as part of Devendra Fadnavis’ hallmark infrastructure initiatives, the Samruddhi Mahamarg now promises to emerge as India’s most transformative expressway — tying cities together, enhancing logistics, and spurring regional development.
With its official opening, the Samruddhi Mahamarg is not merely a road — it’s a move in the right direction to modernize Maharashtra’s transport infrastructure and unlock the economic potential of the state.
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