Samruddhi Expressway Now Fully Complete, Ready for Traffic

701-km Long Expressway to Open for Traffic Soon

The much-awaited Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Expressway, 701 km long, is now fully completed. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis led this major project. The final stretch, 76 km long, runs between Igatpuri and Amane in Thane district and has now been finished.

Final Touches Before Opening

Officials from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) have confirmed that only a few small tasks remain. These include planting trees and setting up crash barriers to ensure safety. The work is expected to be completed by the second week of March.

Kailas Jadhav, Joint Managing Director of MSRTC, said that once the Maharashtra government approves, vehicles will be allowed to use the entire expressway. This is expected to happen by next month.

The Journey of the Project

This expressway was Devendra Fadnavis's dream project during his term as chief minister between 2014 and 2019. Construction started in 2019, but progress slowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, work picked up pace again, and now the entire stretch is finally completed.

MSRDC assigned 16 well-known construction firms to build different sections of the road. The project acquired 8,861 hectares of land. Some farmers were initially reluctant to sell their land, but the government gradually convinced them.

Challenges Faced During Construction

Building this expressway was not easy. Since the road passes through 10 districts, many vehicle, pedestrian, and cattle underpasses had to be built for smooth movement. The most difficult part was constructing the stretch in the hilly terrain of Igatpuri, where the Western Ghats mountains posed a big challenge. To overcome this, engineers had to cut through the hills to create a 7.7 km-long tunnel between Igatpuri and Kasara. Also, building viaducts (high bridges) in Igatpuri and Thane was a major engineering challenge.

Phased Openings of the Expressway

The Samruddhi Expressway has been opened in phases over the past few years:

• In December 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first stretch between Nagpur and Shirdi.
• In May 2023, the then Chief Minister Eknath Shinde opened the next stretch from Shirdi to Bharvir (Nashik).
• Last year, a 25 km section from Bharvir to Igatpuri was also opened.

Now, with the final section completed, the expressway will soon be fully operational.

Benefits of the Expressway

Once the entire expressway is open, traffic congestion on the Nashik-Mumbai highway, which is part of the Agra-Mumbai national highway, will be reduced. This highway often faces heavy traffic, especially during the monsoon season, when potholes cause further delays.

According to Ashish Nahar, President of Nashik Industries and Manufacturers' Association, the expressway will be a boon for industries. Transportation of finished goods and raw materials will become much faster, saving both time and fuel. Improved connectivity will also attract new investments to Nashik and nearby districts.

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