Nagpur: The Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg is set to play a pivotal role in Maharashtra’s development and will be extended to Vadhavan Port in the future, announced Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during the inauguration of the expressway’s final phase at Igatpuri on May 5.

The event, conducted via video conferencing, also marked the inauguration of the Thane Creek Bridge-3 (southbound) on the Sion-Panvel highway. The ceremony was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse, PWD Minister Shambhuraj Desai, FDA Minister Narhari Zirwal, MoS Meghna Sakore-Bordikar, MLAs Niranjan Davkhare, Nitin Pawar, Hiramani Khoskar, PWD Additional Chief Secretary Manisha Mhaiskar, and MSRDC MD Anil Gaikwad.

CM Fadnavis emphasized that the Samruddhi Expressway has been constructed with record-speed land acquisition. Covering 701 km and built at a cost of ₹55,335 crore, it connects 24 districts, including Vidarbha, Marathwada, and North Maharashtra, to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT). The proposed extension to Vadhavan Port will further enhance its strategic importance.

Passing through the Sahyadri mountain ranges, 76 km of the route runs across Nashik and Thane districts. The expressway includes an 8-km-long tunnel near Igatpuri, the longest in Maharashtra and the widest in India.

The government has integrated multiple green initiatives along the expressway. Over 1,000 farm ponds have been developed, water recharge facilities are placed every 500 meters, and a solar energy project of 35 MW is underway. Additionally, GAIL has laid a gas pipeline along the highway, which is expected to extend up to the upcoming Steel City in Gadchiroli.

CM Fadnavis highlighted the expressway’s role in connecting religious and tourism destinations and noted the importance of the newly inaugurated third bridge over Vashi Creek in easing traffic congestion.

To ensure safety, advanced technology has been employed to make the expressway accident-free. Notably, 100 wildlife crossings and eco-friendly structures have been built—the first of their kind in the country—to ensure unobstructed movement of wild animals.

The Chief Minister also announced the upcoming Shaktipeeth Highway, expected to transform the economy of the Marathwada region.

Deputy CM Eknath Shinde stated that the Samruddhi Expressway will significantly reduce travel time, pollution, and fuel consumption while boosting agriculture, tourism, and industrial development. He described the eco-friendly corridor as a game-changer for Maharashtra’s growth, especially for Nashik district.

The Samruddhi Mahamarg is rapidly emerging as a transformative infrastructure project, set to reshape the economic landscape of multiple regions across Maharashtra.