Nagpur-Mumbai expressway’s final phase expected to start by end of September

Once completed, the travel time between Mumbai and Nagpur will be just eight hours from 18 hours earlier.

The entire stretch of the Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, also known as the Samruddhi Mahamarg, is expected to be thrown open to the public by September.

After the work on the final phase covering a 76-km-long stretch between Igatpuri in Nashik and Aamne in Thane is completed, it will provide a seamless travel option to motorists between the two big cities in Maharashtra.

Once completed, the travel time between Mumbai and Nagpur will be just eight hours from 18 hours earlier.

Speaking about the difficulties faced, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Chairman and Managing Director Anilkumar Gaikwad said: “The last phase was the most challenging part of the ambitious 701-km-long project. There were 16 deep valleys and five hillocks. After cutting these hillocks we have constructed five tunnels and bridged the valleys with 16 viaducts. Construction of the viaducts was a big challenge.”

Meanwhile, the construction of the west-end corridor of 1.8-km-long twin viaducts at Vashala, located about 7km from Khardi railway station in Thane district, is in full swing and is expected to be completed by November-end. Till that time, traffic in both directions will be managed from four lanes on the east-end viaduct in a 3-km-long stretch of the expressway.

Out of the 701 kilometers of the Samruddhi Mahamarg, 625 kilometers have already been completed and opened to traffic.