The Maharashtra government has granted administrative and financial approval for the long-awaited Nagpur-Gondia access-controlled expressway, signalling a significant boost to connectivity and economic growth in eastern Vidarbha. The 162.57-kilometre corridor, estimated at ₹3,162.18 crore, will be executed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and is expected to enhance travel efficiency, safety, and sustainable regional development.
According to the government resolution issued on October 3, the expressway will connect Nagpur to Gondia, passing through Bhandara district. The project includes critical connecting routes such as the 3.7-kilometre Tiroda link road and the 13.7-kilometre Gondia bypass. Seen as an extension of the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, which currently links Mumbai to Nagpur, the corridor is expected to integrate eastern Vidarbha more effectively with the state’s expressway network. The state cabinet approved the project proposal in August 2025, following which the public works department finalised execution and financial arrangements. The total sanctioned amount comprises ₹2,006 crore for principal project costs and ₹1,156 crore towards interest. To fund the project, MSRDC will secure a loan from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), with the state government assuring coverage for any shortfall in repayment.
Officials emphasise that the expressway will significantly reduce travel times between Nagpur and Gondia, providing a safer, faster, and more environmentally sustainable mode of transportation. The project is expected to unlock development opportunities in the tribal and mining-dominated districts of Bhandara and Gondia, enhance agricultural logistics, and attract industrial investments to eastern Maharashtra. “The Nagpur-Gondia Expressway is more than just a road. It is an economic lifeline that will integrate remote regions with the broader state infrastructure and create sustainable growth corridors,” said a senior MSRDC official. Experts highlight that improved connectivity is likely to bolster Nagpur’s position as a regional logistics hub, linking industrial centres and mineral-rich hinterlands more efficiently.
Pre-construction activities, including surveys and land demarcation, are expected to commence soon, with work gaining momentum following the government’s formal sanction. MSRDC officials indicated that the project will follow environmentally conscious engineering practices, minimising ecological impact while ensuring high safety standards for motorists. Once operational, the expressway is projected to serve as a vital infrastructure artery for eastern Vidarbha, supporting trade, reducing carbon emissions by facilitating smoother traffic flow, and strengthening equitable access to economic opportunities across the region.
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