The Joint Managing Director (JMD) of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), Kailash Jadhav, has said that a section of Samruddhi Mahamarg spanning 25 kilometers from Bharvir to Igatpuri Town is scheduled to be opened for traffic by February, The Indian Express reported.
The JMD said that only the girder laying of the vehicular over the bridge (VOB) is pending. “All other major works have been completed on this 25-km stretch. We are aiming at opening it to traffic by February,” he added.
According to Jadhav, the 25-kilometer segment of the expressway includes a mix of features such as a flyover, bridges, VOB (Vertical Shaft Brick), twin tunnels measuring 300 meters each, and an intersection with the old Mumbai Nashik Highway. This particular section is recognised as one of the most intricate parts of the expressway. Notably, the construction of the VOB presented challenges due to the continuous traffic flow on the six-lane road beneath the bridge.
Samruddhi Mahamarg
The Samruddhi Mahamarg, a 701-kilometer corridor connecting Nagpur to Mumbai, is partially operational, with the 600-kilometer expressway section from Nagpur to Bharvir in Igatpuri currently accessible 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 will mark the conclusion of the work in the Nashik district, leaving only the Thane district tasks to be addressed. The pending 76-kilometer stretch extending to Amane in Thane is yet to be completed. Jadhav indicated that this remaining section of the expressway is expected to be opened by July.
