The long-awaited inauguration of the final stretch of the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway has been postponed yet again. Today, on Maharashtra Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected to open the last 76-kilometre section between Igatpuri and Amane. However, following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, the Prime Minister cancelled several public engagements, including this high-profile launch.
This delay is particularly frustrating for many, as the expressway has been fully ready for months. Yet, public access remains blocked, with the opening tied to the Prime Minister’s visit. There is still no new date for when motorists will finally be able to use the completed route.
What is the Samruddhi Expressway?
The Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg-better known as the Samruddhi Expressway-is one of India’s most ambitious road projects. It connects Mumbai to Nagpur, stretching a remarkable 701 kilometres across Maharashtra.
First announced in 2015, the expressway was designed to transform travel in the state. It is a six-lane, access-controlled highway (expandable to eight lanes), built for speeds up to 150 km/h on straight stretches. The road features 65 flyovers, 33 major bridges, 274 minor bridges, 8 railway overbridges, 25 interchanges, 6 tunnels, and numerous underpasses for vehicles, pedestrians, and wildlife.
The total cost of the project is estimated at ₹67,000 crore. Construction began in early 2019, with work divided into 16 phases. Despite delays caused by land acquisition issues and the COVID-19 pandemic, the project moved forward at a rapid pace. Land acquisition alone involved nearly 9,000 hectares, and 16 major construction firms were involved in the build.
The expressway has already been partially opened in phases: the Nagpur to Shirdi section in December 2022, Shirdi to Bharvir in May 2023, and up to Igatpuri in March 2024. The final stretch, which bypasses the dangerous Kasara Ghat, is now complete. Once fully open, the expressway will cut the Mumbai-Nagpur travel time from 16 hours to just 8 hours.
Why is the Expressway Still Not Open?
The biggest criticism facing the Samruddhi Expressway project is not about its construction, but about its delayed opening. The final section has been ready for public use for months. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) confirmed that only minor finishing touches-like tree planting and crash barrier installation-remained, and even these were scheduled to be completed by March 2025.
However, despite all major work being finished, the expressway remains closed simply because the government wants the Prime Minister to inaugurate it. Today’s planned launch on Maharashtra Day was seen as the perfect occasion, but the sudden change in the Prime Minister’s schedule has left the project in limbo once again.
This has led to widespread frustration. Many believe that vital infrastructure should not be kept idle for ceremonial reasons, especially when it could already be serving thousands of motorists and boosting the state’s economy.
