Nagpur: As the work on the final 76-km stretch of the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg, connecting Igatpuri to Mumbai, nears completion, officials are hopeful it will be opened to traffic by September. This development promises to significantly ease the journey for motorists traveling to Nashik and Nagpur.
A Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) official associated with the project stated, “The work on the 76-km stretch of Samruddhi Mahamarg between Igatpuri and Thane is progressing rapidly and is expected to be ready by August. We anticipate it will be opened for traffic in September.”
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However, the official noted a slight delay due to a 2-km-long bridge on this stretch, which is expected to be completed by November or December. “The delay in opening this bridge will not impact the overall traffic flow,” he added.
Currently, the Samruddhi Mahamarg is operational from Nagpur to Igatpuri, meaning motorists traveling from Mumbai to Nagpur must use the old Mumbai-Nashik Highway up to Igatpuri before joining the Samruddhi Mahamarg. The opening of the new 76-km stretch between Igatpuri and Amane near Thane will allow motorists to bypass the congested Kasara Ghat and the heavy traffic on the old Mumbai-Nashik Highway.
In addition to this, the MSRDC is also working on widening a 23.05-km stretch of the old Mumbai-Nashik Highway between Thane and Vadpe. This stretch frequently experiences heavy traffic, often taking over two hours to traverse. According to MSRDC officials, the widening work is expected to be completed by February or March next year.
The Samruddhi Mahamarg is a crucial infrastructure project linking Maharashtra’s economic and agricultural hubs. The 701-km expressway traverses three distinct habitat types: dry deciduous forests near Nagpur, grasslands in the middle section, and the Western Ghats near the end of the expressway near Mumbai.
This major development is set to enhance connectivity and reduce travel time significantly, benefiting countless motorists and contributing to the region’s economic growth.
