The Joint Managing Director (JMD) of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), Kailash Jadhav, announced that a 25-kilometer section of the Samruddhi Mahamarg, stretching from Bharvir to Igatpuri Town, is set to open for traffic in February.
Jadhav highlighted that only the girder laying of the Vehicular Over Bridge (VOB) remains pending for this particular stretch. He stated, "All other major works on this 25-km segment have been completed. Our goal is to open it to traffic by February."
This section of the expressway features various elements, including a flyover, bridges, VOB (Vertical Shaft Brick), twin tunnels each measuring 300 meters, and an intersection with the old Mumbai Nashik Highway. Recognised as one of the most intricate parts of the expressway, the construction of the VOB posed challenges due to continuous traffic flow on the six-lane road beneath the bridge.
The Samruddhi Mahamarg, a 701-kilometer corridor connecting Nagpur to Mumbai, is partially operational, with the 600-kilometer stretch from Nagpur to Bharvir in Igatpuri currently open to traffic. The inauguration of this stretch occurred in two phases: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 520-kilometer segment between Nagpur and Shirdi in December 2022, while Chief Minister Eknath Shinde inaugurated the portion between Shirdi and Bharvir in May 2023.
Jadhav mentioned that the completion of the 25-kilometer stretch signifies the conclusion of work in the Nashik district, with only tasks in the Thane district remaining. The pending 76-kilometer stretch extending to Amane in Thane is expected to be completed, and Jadhav indicated that this remaining section of the expressway is anticipated to open by July.
