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by Suryaa |
For any region to experience economic and social growth, connectivity infrastructure remains the key. The same vision was seen with the inception of the longest expressway in Maharashtra.
Formally known as the 'Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg’, the Samruddhi Expressway is a 701-km key road project linking Mumbai and Nagpur.
Few know that the project, now in its final stages, has its roots in the ambitions of Dy. CM Devendra Fadnavis, who first conceptualised it during his tenure as the Mayor of Nagpur. Since then, Fadnavis and his administration has been a driving force behind the project’s execution.
His early vision focused on improving infrastructure in Nagpur and led to the recognition of a direct link to Mumbai, the state’s economic powerhouse. Without a direct link to the capital, it would be difficult to kick-start the economic engines of Nagpur.
He had stated, "This expressway will create a new growth engine for the state, connecting rural areas with urban centres. This will ensure that Vidarbha’s potential is fully realised"
The expressway — is not just planned as a roadway, but as an infrastructure project to change the socio-economic landscape, particularly in the underserved Vidarbha region.
State’s Longest Expressway
Following the announcement in 2015, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) was appointed as the executing agency for the Samruddhi Expressway project.
Within the next four years, all necessary formalities were established to support the greenfield alignment, including project report preparations, land acquisition, execution, and funding.
Construction officially began in 2019, leading to a record completion timeline. The Samruddhi Expressway's phasewise opening began on 11 December 2022, with a 520 km stretch connecting Nagpur to Shirdi.
This first phase reduced travel time between these two cities, significantly enhancing connectivity for central Maharashtra.
The second phase, 80 km- stretch between Shirdi and Igatpuri, opened on in May, 2023, further extending the route towards Mumbai.
The final phase, linking Igatpuri to Mumbai, completes the 701 km expressway and with full operations, the expressway will cut down travel time between Nagpur and Mumbai to approximately eight hours.
The massive project, has a total of six tunnels through its span, with the 7.7-km twin tunnels between Kasara Ghat and Igatpuri, which is also the longest highway tunnel in Maharashtra.
The corridor passes through several scenic landscapes — three wildlife sanctuaries, 35 wildlife focus areas, as well as a 310-metre long high bridge crossing over river Wardha.
To protect the wildlife, special measures like undercrossing, overpasses, high box culverts were developed to facilitate the movement of animals to avoid roadkill.
Opening Up The Unconnected Regions
Maharashtra's economic engine is largely fuelled by the so-called "golden triangle" formed by Mumbai, Pune, and Nashik, which accounts for approximately 60 per cent of the state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) by some estimates.
Additionally, there are emerging industrial hubs in Sangli, Satara, and Kolhapur.
However, the eastern part of Maharashtra has been largely overlooked in terms of development due to inadequate connectivity.
The Samruddhi Expressway was specifically designed to change this, aiming to open new opportunities for the state.
This project was envisioned as an economic corridor that would foster growth and development across the region. On its long span across the state, the road covers ten key districts of the state and indirectly connects other 14 districts of the state.
The alignment is planned in a way to connect economic hubs including the country's largest container port, Jawahar Lal Nehru Port (JNPT) in Mumbai, as well as the new airport coming up in Navi Mumbai.
The road feature 24 interchanges, connecting it to several industrial and economic centres.
Typically, highways develop economic hotspots over time around interchanges. However, this expressway takes a more structured approach by incorporating a township development plan directly into the project design, maximising economic impact from the start.
A core vision is to develop 18 strategically located townships at 30-40 km intervals along the route.
These townships will offer essential amenities like schools, Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), skill centres, technical and higher education institutes, hospitals, police stations, playgrounds, parks, and sports complexes to support well-rounded community growth.
Key Initiatives By Fadnavis For The Expressway Project
As per reports, Maharashtra was the first state in India to develop a greenfield expressway. This was with construction of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway which was operationalised in 2002.
However, after this effort, progress slowed, leading to a long pause in building new expressways in Maharashtra.
Fadnavis took decisive actions to make his vision a reality. He continued to emphasise the need for improved infrastructure in Vidarbha, which has historically lagged in development compared to the western parts of Maharashtra.
In 2015, the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition government announced and approved the construction of this greenfield expressway.
He championed the project through various government levels, facilitating necessary approvals, minimising bureaucratic hurdles, and taking key decisions for the advancement of the project.
Land Acquisition
Fadnavis' hands-on approach led to faster land acquisition processes — which remains an initial challenge for any such large-scale projects.
Acquiring land across 701 km, affecting multiple districts and numerous villages, was a major hurdle, as it involved negotiating with landowners and addressing displacement issues.
Environmental clearances were also a concern, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas, where rigorous regulations and public opposition added delays.
To tackle these, Fadnavis implemented a structured land acquisition policy, emphasising fair compensation, or rehabilitation.
The focus was on transparent dialogue with affected communities, which helped gain public support and expedite processes.
In earlier projects, even minor issues, such as disputes over small parcels of land, often led to major delays or complete standstills. A single land conflict could disrupt timelines and escalate costs, bringing entire projects to a halt.
The infrastructure' war room', first established in 2015 by then CM Fadnavis, also supported the acquisition process with efficient coordination.
War Room Strategy
The 'war room' further helped accelerate this project, which went on to clear all required steps, after the land acquisition process was done.
Inter-agency coordination, which typically faces hurdles in traditional departmental decision-making, was expedited through this centralised approach.
Each involved agency had its own work culture and decision-making style, and historically, these differences often led to coordination issues, delays, and increased costs.
The war room overcame these challenges by fixing a unified approach, enabling a more cohesive execution across agencies, avoiding delays and cost escalations.
Financing The Massive Project
To fund the Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, Fadnavis, strategically leveraged the balance sheets of five state public agencies — Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), and the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA).
This process raised Rs 5,000 crores.
Additionally, the toll collection rights from the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the older Mumbai-Pune Highway were securitised, generating an additional Rs 9,000 crores to support the expressway project.
The funds obtained through this securitisation were crucial for acquiring land for the proposed expressway.
The responsibility for funding land acquisition costs was with MSRDC, and the entire construction cost is through loans. The loan for the construction cost will be repaid through the toll revenue generated from the expressway.
Technological Advancements
Fadnavis advocated for incorporating modern technology in the expressway’s design and operation, including smart traffic management systems and environmentally sustainable practices.
These advancements aim to enhance safety and reduce travel times.
He ensured that the project was closely monitored, with regular updates to the public and stakeholders about its progress.
This transparency helped maintain public interest and support, crucial for the project’s success.
MSRDC At The Forefront
MSRDC undertook the planning — including route selection, land acquisition, and environmental clearances — all while maintaining transparency and engaging with local communities.
As the development’s broader vision included setting up new townships and industrial zones along the route, the government introduced incentives for businesses to set up along the expressway, aiming to attract investment in various sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, and agriculture.
“The project was not merely envisaged as connecting two places but was envisioned as an economic corridor, with 18 townships located at strategic intersections.”, stated Radheshyam Mopalwar, Former VC and MD, MSRDC.
With most parts of the expressway now operational, the work on the townships is set to begin.
New Nodes Under Development
Continuing this development, the Maharashtra government has proposed additional connectors or access-controlled expressways to link major districts in the state to the Samruddhi Mahamarg.
As the project moves closer to completion, new connections that are progressing includes — the 53 km elevated, six-lane Pune to Shirur Road, and the 179.85 km Jalna-Nanded expressway.
Jalna-Nanded expressway
The Jalna-Nanded greenfield expressway, will offer direct and expedited connectivity for Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani, and Jalna districts to Mumbai and onwards to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT).
This six-lane expressway will have a design speed of 120 kmph, with a 100-metre right-of-way. A unique feature of the expressway is the provision of a 20-metre space for the construction of a high-speed rail corridor.
Nearly 180 km, expressway begins at Jalna on Samruddhi Mahamarg, passes through Parbhani, and Nanded districts before terminating on the Nanded-Deglur-Telangana NH 161.
Pune-Shirur Road
Additionally, the Maharashtra state government has approved linking the 53 km elevated, six-lane Pune to Shirur Road with the Samruddhi Expressway via Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
The expressway will begin from the Pune Bypass at Kesnand (Wagholi) and Lonikand, forming a crucial link that will boost connectivity across key regions.
The Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC), in partnership with the state's public works department (PWD), will oversee the project.
Estimated to cost Rs 9,565 crore, the development will include Rs 7,515 crore for the Pune-Shirur Road and Rs 2,050 crore for upgrading the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Road via the Ahmednagar Bypass.
According to officials, the new expressway will provide multiple entry and exit points to cities like Shirur, Ahmednagar, Nevasa, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Once completed, these expressways, with the capacity to link urban and rural areas, will create a seamless network of modern roadways, enabling rapid and convenient travel and contributing to Maharashtra's economic growth.
The project’s success reflects Devendra Fadnavis’ vision and determination — as under his leadership, it evolved from a concept into a transformative initiative set to reshape the state’s economic landscape.
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