Contrary to recent media reports suggesting the imminent opening of the final 76 km stretch of the Hinduhrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg (HBTMSM) between Bharvir in Igatpuri and Aamne in Bhiwandi, officials have clarified that the claims are baseless.
A senior official from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) refuted the rumors, stating that while construction is progressing rapidly, the section will be ready for public use only within the next two months. “The reports circulating are unfounded. We are working diligently to complete the project at the earliest,” the official said.
The Samruddhi Mahamarg, a visionary project initiated during Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s first term, spans 701 kilometers, connecting Mumbai with Nagpur. Designed as an access-controlled expressway, it promises to cut travel time between the state’s two major cities and boost Maharashtra’s socio-economic growth.
Construction began in January 2019, and major milestones have already been achieved. The first 625-kilometer stretch from Nagpur to Shirdi was inaugurated in December 2022, followed by the second 105-kilometer segment from Shirdi to Bharvir in May 2023.
Work on the crucial 4.5-kilometer link between Amane and the Shangri La Resort on the old Mumbai-Nashik Highway is still ongoing. This segment, part of the larger Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway connecting to JNPT Road, is expected to be completed by November. Officials stress that this road is vital for ensuring smooth connectivity before the remaining portion of the Samruddhi Mahamarg can be operational.
The MSRDC also plans to enhance commuter convenience by establishing around 10 public utility areas along the expressway, which will include petrol pumps, eateries, and other amenities. Designed for speeds up to 150 kmph, the expressway features state-of-the-art infrastructure, including a Greenfield alignment, underpasses for wildlife, flyovers, and pedestrian crossings.
Announced in November 2015, the expressway was constructed simultaneously across 16 packages. The final completion is expected to revolutionize transport infrastructure, further propelling economic development across Maharashtra.
