Maharashtra’s flagship 701-km expressway, has hit another snag, with its final 76-km Igatpuri to Amne stretch missing its May 1, 2025, inauguration.
Initially hailed as a game-changer to slash Mumbai-Nagpur travel from 16 to 8 hours, the delay—attributed to security concerns following the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack—has left commuters like Nashik’s Anil Patil exasperated. “It’s a massive project, but these constant delays are testing our patience,” he told Nagpur Today, echoing the frustration of thousands reliant on the congested Mumbai-Nashik highway. For Maharashtra’s 125 million residents, the Samruddhi Expressway is more than a road—it’s a lifeline promising economic and social connectivity across 10 districts and 390 villages. The Igatpuri-Amne segment, carving through the Sahyadri’s rugged terrain, is the final hurdle. Despite 625 km operational since December 2022, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) cites geotechnical challenges and now security risks for the postponement.
Commuters face 90-minute detours via the Kasara Ghat, burning fuel and time, with tolls for light vehicles at ₹1,450 one-way adding insult to injury. Small businesses in Thane and Nashik, expecting a trade boom, remain in limbo. The expressway’s six tunnels, 33 major bridges, and EV charging stations are ready, yet the Thane-Vadape connector’s ongoing construction exacerbates delays, potentially until December 2025, per X sentiments. MSRDC’s Anil Gaikwad insists the project is in its “final stages,” but no new inauguration date exists, dimming hopes of Prime Minister Modi’s planned May 1 launch. Safety concerns are valid—265 fatalities in 166 accidents from December 2022 to February 2025 underscore the need for robust crash barriers, now being installed. Yet, the lack of transparency fuels distrust, with citizens questioning why a completed stretch remains off-limits.
The Samruddhi Expressway’s promise—cutting travel to Navi Mumbai’s upcoming airport to 2 hours and boosting agri-processing hubs—hangs in balance. For now, Maharashtra waits, hoping its “dream project” doesn’t become a mirage. Commuters are advised to check MSRDC’s website or NTES app for updates and plan detours via the Mumbai-Nashik highway.
