MSRDC Clarifies for No Immediate Launch for Samruddhi Mahamarg
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has dismissed recent reports claiming the imminent opening of the final 76-kilometre stretch of the Hinduhrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg (HBTMSM). Officials clarified that the section between Bharvir in Igatpuri and Aamne in Bhiwandi will be operational only in the next two months, contrary to widespread rumours.
A senior MSRDC official confirmed, “The reports are baseless. Construction is progressing rapidly, but the stretch will not be ready for public use yet. We are committed to completing it at the earliest.” The Samruddhi Mahamarg, spanning 701 kilometres, is a flagship project launched during Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s first term. Designed as an access-controlled expressway, it aims to significantly reduce travel time between Mumbai and Nagpur while fostering socio-economic development across Maharashtra. Construction of the expressway began in January 2019, and substantial progress has been made. The initial 625-kilometre stretch from Nagpur to Shirdi was inaugurated in December 2022, followed by the 105-kilometre segment from Shirdi to Bharvir in May 2023.
The final link between Aamne and the Shangri La Resort on the Mumbai-Nashik Highway—a crucial 4.5-kilometre connector—is still under development and expected to be completed by November. The MSRDC has also outlined plans to enhance the expressway’s infrastructure by establishing approximately 10 utility zones. These zones will include petrol pumps, eateries, and other amenities to improve commuter convenience. Built to accommodate speeds of up to 150 kmph, the expressway incorporates advanced features such as Greenfield alignments, wildlife underpasses, and pedestrian crossings. Announced in November 2015, the expressway was constructed across 16 packages simultaneously. Upon completion, the Samruddhi Mahamarg is set to redefine transportation in Maharashtra, acting as a catalyst for economic growth by improving connectivity and reducing travel time between the state’s key cities.
