Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced that the state government plans to inaugurate the first phase of the project, which spans 480 km from Shirdi to Nagpur, on August 15, according to Radheshyam Mopalwar, Director General (War Room, Infrastructure Projects) and Managing Director of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).

Mumbai and Nagpur will be linked by the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg. Radheshyam Mopalwar, Director General (War Room, Infrastructure Projects) and Managing Director of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), discusses construction challenges, upcoming infrastructure projects that promise to transform Maharashtra, and his initiative to improve travel conditions on roads leading up to Mumbai.

The first phase of the project, which spans 480 km from Shirdi to Nagpur, has been completed. “We hope to open it on August 15, as stated by the honourable chief minister. We are waiting for formal word on this. The initiative can be launched right now, and the honourable Prime Minister will do so. We've been preparing since June 5. The infrastructure is already in place,” said Mopalwar.

Ambulance services have been established along the route, and everything, including toll booths and fueling stations, has been prepared.

A cost of Rs 1.72 per km would be paid, according to a formula specified in the Maharashtra government's 2008 notification. In fact, the current NH-3 toll from Mumbai to Nashik is greater than the highway toll. Despite the fact that the route is designed for speeds of up to 150 km/h, the official speed limit is 120 km/h.

See also:
Hazoor Multi Projects bags Nagpur-Mumbai expressway order
MSRDC set up land authority for Samruddhi Mahamarg route