Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday inaugurated the final 76-kilometre section of the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway at Igatpuri, Nashik. The ceremony marked the completion of the ambitious 701-km corridor, one of India’s longest expressways. The event was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, alongside several state ministers. This final phase connects Igatpuri in Nashik to Amane in Thane, making the six-lane Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg fully operational. Officials stated that the expressway would be opened to the public shortly, with a projected reduction in travel time between Mumbai and Nagpur from 18 to just 8 hours.

The inauguration included a detailed inspection of the expressway’s longest tunnel and viaduct near Igatpuri. In a symbolic gesture, Eknath Shinde drove a high-end car with Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar onboard during a 45-minute ride. On their return, CM Fadnavis himself took over the driving. A newly built third creek bridge near the Vashi-Sion-Panvel Highway was also inaugurated virtually. Previously, 625 km of the expressway was in use, having served nearly two crore vehicles. The entire project, constructed at an estimated cost of ₹55,000 crore, spans 392 villages, 10 districts, and connects to major routes like the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and JNPA.

The final stretch is expected to significantly boost connectivity for pilgrims heading to Shirdi and farmers accessing Mumbai’s markets from regions like Sinnar and Igatpuri. The greenfield expressway maintains a speed limit of 120 km/h in plains and 100 km/h in hilly sections. Phased in since December 2022, the expressway stands as a modern transport milestone that not only improves logistics and tourism but also promises a major push for economic growth across Maharashtra.