Mumbai: Starting from the last week of August, travelers between Mumbai and Nashik—and further beyond—will have a faster route available with the opening of the final 76-kilometer stretch of the Samruddhi Mahamarg, extending from Igatpuri to Amane in Thane. This new segment will significantly reduce travel time, allowing commuters to cover the distance in about 40 minutes, a savings of nearly an hour.

Anil Kumar Gaikwad, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), shared details with The Indian Express about the highway’s benefits. The new route will enable vehicles to bypass the old, winding Kasara Ghat, facilitating travel at speeds up to 120 km/h.

“The journey from Igatpuri to Shangrila Resort in Thane, which currently takes around 1.5 hours due to the challenging terrain of the old Mumbai-Nashik Highway, will be reduced to just 40 minutes on the Samruddhi Mahamarg. This new stretch includes a twin tunnel and a viaduct through a valley, providing a smooth drive with gentle gradients and eliminating the sharp curves found on the old route, thereby enhancing safety,” Gaikwad explained.

Gaikwad also provided updates on the bridge at Shahapur. While construction is ongoing, one lane of the four-lane bridge (Nagpur to Mumbai direction) will be completed and opened by the end of August. For the time being, traffic will flow through two lanes in each direction until the second lane (Mumbai to Nagpur direction) is finished in the following months. The bridge, standing 82 meters tall and spanning two kilometers, is particularly challenging due to the dense forests on both sides.

Once the bridge is operational, traffic from Nagpur to Mumbai, which currently merges at Igatpuri, will merge at the Shangrila Resort in Thane. Additionally, traffic from the existing Nashik-Mumbai Expressway will be rerouted to the Samruddhi Mahamarg, ensuring a smoother and more efficient flow of vehicles.