The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has announced that the remaining stretch of the Hinduhrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg (HBTMSM) is slated to be operational by November this year.
Presently, the expressway is functional up to Igatpuri, with the 78-kilometre segment between Igatpuri and Amne village in Thane still under construction. Addressing concerns regarding the construction delay, an MSRDC official clarified that the delay is not due to any lapse in planning but rather the challenging conditions at the construction site. The bridge is being built at a significant height, and strong winds have hampered construction activities. Additionally, the project has had to accommodate wildlife movement, necessitating careful planning and execution. Despite these challenges, work is ongoing around the clock, with completion targeted for October or November.
The HBTMSM, characterised by its Greenfield alignment, is designed for high-speed travel at 150 kmph. The expressway features a right of way (ROW) of 120 metres in non-forest areas and 90 metres in forest regions. It also boasts a central median of 15 metres, a paved shoulder of 2 metres, and an additional earthen shoulder. In a bid to ensure minimal disruption to wildlife, the project includes numerous underpasses for wildlife and cattle crossings, as well as flyovers and interchanges at major road crossings. Furthermore, the expressway is equipped with vehicular underpasses (VUPs) and pedestrian underpasses (PUPs) at every village and town along the route, strategically avoiding major urban centres. The completion of the HBTMSM is expected to significantly enhance connectivity and facilitate economic growth in the region, fulfilling the vision set out by the Maharashtra Government. This super communication expressway is poised to become a critical infrastructure asset, driving progress and development across Maharashtra.
“We have completed close to 90% of the work and what remains is the 1.8 km long Khardi bridge on Kasara ghat section that is causing a major challenge. The work on the 8-km-long tunnel has also been completed. The 701-km-long expressway is of six lanes, but it would narrow down to four lanes at Khardi bridge for the time being,” a senior MSRDC official said.
“The entire expressway has three lanes on each side. The traffic till Mumbai will start by August and only the bridge stretch will have a four-lane road with two lanes being operational in either direction. This would be a temporary arrangement and we have plans to open the remaining lanes of the bridge for traffic by November, thereby making operational the entire expressway a six-lane project,” the official added.
