In a significant infrastructure milestone, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, inaugurated the final 76-km Igatpuri-Aamne stretch of the Hinduhrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg on Thursday.
This officially completes the 701 km expressway, directly linking Mumbai and Nagpur and bringing major travel, logistics, and economic benefits.
Travel Time Cut by 50%
With the entire expressway now open to the public, the travel time between Mumbai and Nagpur has been reduced from 16 hours to 8. The route is now fully operational for vehicular traffic, enabling seamless, high-speed connectivity.
Engineering Feat: High-Speed Tunnels
The newly opened stretch features five tunnels, including an 8-km-long tunnel in Nashik, the longest on the entire expressway. The Igatpuri–Kasara section, which previously took much longer to navigate, can now be completed in just 8 minutes.
Leaders Take the First Ride
Before the official ceremony, the Chief Minister and his deputies drove through the new tunnel. Fadnavis praised the route as “Maharashtra’s path to prosperity – paved and delivered.”
A Vision Realized
Calling the expressway “Maharashtra’s Prosperity Lifeline,” Fadnavis said it fulfills the long-standing vision of improving connectivity and accelerating sustainable growth across the state. He termed it a historic infrastructure achievement.
CMO Celebrates on X
The Chief Minister’s Office celebrated the launch on social media, calling the drive a symbol of Maharashtra’s progress and a dream realized. The post also credited Fadnavis as the project’s visionary leader.
Politics with a Wink
When asked about the three top leaders traveling together, Fadnavis quipped, “Our car is working fine. We three work in three shifts,” referencing the state’s unique coalition government with a touch of humor.
Next Up: Shaktipeeth Mahamarg
Fadnavis also announced the next major highway project, the Shaktipeeth Mahamarg, focused on boosting Marathwada’s economic growth. Work on the new route will begin soon.
Project Scale and Investment
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) spearheaded the Rs 55,335 crore, six-lane, access-controlled expressway. The mega project spans:
- 10 districts
- 26 talukas
- 392 villages
- 12 connected districts
and links directly to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, enhancing freight efficiency and regional development.
