25 km stretch of Samruddhi Expressway from Bharvir to Igatpuri likely to open from March 4

A 25-kilometer stretch of the Samruddhi Mahamarg expressway between Bharvir and Igatpuri town is scheduled to open around March 4, as confirmed by an official from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). 

This particular section is marked by its complexity, featuring a combination of a flyover, bridges, Venture over Bridge (VOB), twin tunnels measuring 300 meters each, and a crossing of the old Mumbai-Nashik Highway. 

Initially targeted for a mid-February opening, the revised deadline is now March 4 due to the completion of minor pending works. The Samruddhi Mahamarg, spanning 701 kilometres and linking Nagpur to Mumbai, has 600 kilometres currently open to traffic. 

The expressway was inaugurated in phases, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi opening the 520-kilometre stretch between Nagpur and Shirdi in December 2022, and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde inaugurating the section between Shirdi and Bharvir in May 2023.