Maharashtra Govt To Expand Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Highway, Boosting Connectivity And Economy

The Maharashtra government has announced plans to extend the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi mega highway, also known as 'Hindurhidaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Samruddhi', to include 12 additional districts. This expansion initiative aims to enhance road connectivity across the state, with an estimated expenditure of Rs 60,000 crore.

The 701-kilometre Samruddhi mega highway, hailed as the longest of its kind in India, has already bolstered Maharashtra's economy by connecting key districts including Nagpur, Wardha, Amaravati, Washim, Buldana, Jalna, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Nashik, and Ahmednagar. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) now plans to extend this connectivity to 12 more districts in the Vidarbha region as part of the expansion project.

Land acquisition for the expansion in the Vidarbha region is slated to commence in April. Under the proposed expansion, the Nagpur-Gondia highway will span 141 kilometres, linking Nagpur, Bhandara, and Gondia districts. The estimated cost for constructing this segment is Rs 15,622 crore. This extension will facilitate connectivity between the Samruddhi mega highway, the Nagpur ring road, and onwards to Bhandara and Gadchiroli.

Another component of the expansion plan is the Bhandara-Gondia highway, covering a distance of 142 kilometres and connecting Bhandara, Gondia, and Gadchiroli districts. This stretch, estimated to cost Rs 370 crore, will integrate with the Nagpur-Gondia highway and the Durg-Hyderabad highway.

Additionally, a new highway is proposed between Nagpur and Chandrapur, which will link Nagpur, Chandrapur, and Gadchiroli to the Samruddhi mega highway. Spanning 195 kilometres, this segment is projected to cost Rs 10,559 crore. It will facilitate connectivity between the Sindhi dry port interchange, the Samruddhi mega highway, the Surajgad mining corridor, and the Durg-Hyderabad highway.

Furthermore, the Nanded-Jalna highway will connect Parbhani, Jalna, and Nanded districts to the Samruddhi mega highway, covering a distance of 180 kilometres. This segment, estimated to cost Rs 19,000 crore, will integrate with Samruddhi at Jalna, further enhancing connectivity across Maharashtra.

The expansion of the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi highway underscores the state government's commitment to bolstering infrastructure and connectivity, paving the way for accelerated economic growth and development in Maharashtra.