Metro 3 Phase 2A, Samruddhi Highway Final Stretch Await Inauguration; Safety Nod Pending
Mumbai, 6th May 2025: Mumbaikars eagerly awaiting the inauguration of two major infrastructure projects — the final 76-km stretch of the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Mahamarg and Phase 2A of Metro Line 3 (BKC to Acharya Atre Chowk) — will have to wait longer as both projects missed their May 1 inauguration deadline.
According to officials, while civil work on both projects is complete, necessary approvals and scheduling hurdles have delayed the official launch. The second phase of Metro Line 3 remains stalled pending a safety certificate from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS). The stretch from BKC to Acharya Atre Chowk is part of the larger Colaba–Bandra–SEEPZ underground corridor, and once operational, it will allow commuters to travel from Aarey to Worli in minutes.
Simultaneously, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has completed work on the final phase of the 701-km Nagpur–Mumbai Samruddhi Expressway — a 76-km section between Igatpuri and Amne. So far, 625 km from Nagpur to Igatpuri has been opened to traffic in phases. The final leg will allow commuters to travel between Mumbai and Nagpur in under 8 hours.
Both projects were initially scheduled to be inaugurated on May 1, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit. However, the event was postponed due to unavailability of the Prime Minister’s time and the pending safety clearance for Metro 3.
Anil Kumar Gaikwad, Managing Director of MSRDC, confirmed that the government plans to jointly inaugurate both the metro stretch and the highway phase in a single ceremony. “A final decision on the inauguration is expected in the next two to three days,” he said.
Until then, the city awaits the formal rollout of two transformative transport links.
