Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway to Slash Travel Time, Set for Completion in February 2025
Mumbai, 4th January 2025: The Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, officially named the ‘Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg,’ is set to transform travel in Maharashtra. After years of construction, the 701-km-long expressway is nearly complete, with the final section slated for inauguration in February 2025. This project will cut the travel time between Mumbai and Nagpur from 16 hours to just eight, greatly improving convenience for travellers.
Currently, the 625-km stretch from Nagpur to Igatpuri in Nashik is operational, and the completion of the final segment will provide a much faster and more efficient route. The expressway is seen as a major milestone in Maharashtra’s infrastructure, offering substantial economic and social benefits. It is also regarded as a key initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aimed at enhancing the state’s connectivity and economic prospects.
Under the leadership of Chief Engineer Anil Kumar Baliram Gaikwad, Managing Director of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the project has overcome several hurdles. Despite delays caused by the pandemic, the final phase is nearly ready for completion.
The expressway includes notable engineering achievements, such as a 13.3-kilometre bypass that avoids a section of the Pune-Mumbai Expressway. The route features two cable bridges, 1.7 kilometres of tunnels, and an 8.9-kilometre stretch across challenging terrain, reducing travel time by 30 minutes. The INR 6,595-crore project also incorporates advanced safety features, including emergency medical services and an Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS).
A key feature of the project is the “zero fatality corridor,” which eliminates the dangerous slopes and sharp turns in the Lonavala ghat section. This improvement will provide safer and quicker travel, helping reduce accidents and fatalities. Additionally, the road will significantly improve access to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, cutting travel time from Pune to the airport from four hours to around two and a half hours, with a proposed bypass further reducing the journey to just two hours.
