Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jun 5: In a transformative push for Maharashtra’s connectivity and economic growth, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday unveiled plans to connect the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Expressway — the state’s flagship infrastructure project — to the upcoming Vadhvan greenfield port, set to become the largest of its kind in India.

This strategic linkage will weave together the Samruddhi corridor with major national arteries, including the Nashik Highway, the soon-to-be operational Delhi-Mumbai greenfield expressway, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor, the under-construction bullet train route, and a planned coastal road extension reaching the port.

“The Prosperity Corridor will not just be a road but a lifeline for the state’s economy,” Fadnavis declared at Igatpuri, after inaugurating the final 76 km stretch of the expressway connecting Igatpuri to Bhiwandi.

He outlined a sweeping vision for the corridor’s future: a solar energy plant with a capacity of up to 1,000 MW (with an initial 200 MW already in the pipeline) and a massive gas pipeline extending from Konkan to Gadchiroli. The pipeline will supply clean PNG fuel to cities, industries, and power plants — a key step towards decarbonisation, he said.

Every half kilometre along the expressway will feature groundwater recharge structures and rainwater-harvesting ponds, boosting sustainability and water security in the region.

Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar joined Fadnavis at the inauguration, which also saw the virtual opening of the southbound arm of the Vashi creek bridge.

“Samruddhi is more than a road — it’s a green corridor connecting 24 districts of Maharashtra to JNPT and eventually Vadhvan,” Fadnavis said. “It’s equipped with 100 animal overpasses and underpasses to protect wildlife, and seven tunnels — including the country’s widest between Igatpuri and Kasara. When the Pune-Mumbai missing link tunnel opens, we’ll break that record too.”

He also highlighted innovative safety features: “In case of a fire inside a tunnel, artificial rainfall will kick in once the temperature crosses 60°C, and stop once it cools to 30°C.”

The Igatpuri-Kasara tunnel was built by Afcons, and the expressway itself stands out for its eco-friendly features, including 3.3 million trees planted using local species and over 1,000 farm ponds created during construction.

The government’s green ambitions go even further. “We’re preparing to generate 200 MW of solar power and have built 22 amenity centres along the route. The new gas pipeline will supply industries, cities, and people across Maharashtra,” the CM said. “Places like Shirdi, Shegaon, and Trimbakeshwar will now feel closer than ever. We’re determined to start the Shaktipeeth corridor — linking Nagpur to Goa — as a priority project.”

Eknath Shinde hailed the expressway as a game-changer. “A trip that took 18 hours now takes just eight — saving time, fuel, and stress,” he said. “We paid attention to every detail, from large-scale tree planting to boosting agriculture, tourism, and industry. Farmers can now reach Mumbai by evening with their produce, a journey that once took three days.”

Shinde added that the Shaktipeeth corridor will be transformative for Marathwada’s farmers, helping prevent suicides and fostering prosperity.

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar acknowledged that farmers initially opposed the project but were won over by attractive compensation packages. “This was a massive undertaking — 12 crore cement bags went into construction. The original estimate was Rs 55,500 crore, but it climbed to over Rs 61,000 crore. Fadnavis started it in his first term and has now delivered it in his second — a rare feat in politics,” he said, also crediting Shinde’s contributions.

After the inauguration, the leaders inspected the expressway’s engineering marvels, including the longest tunnel and viaduct at Igatpuri. Shinde drove a high-end car with Fadnavis beside him and Pawar in the back, swapping seats on the return trip as the CM took the wheel.

The newly built third Vashi Creek bridge was also inaugurated virtually.

Since opening, nearly two crore vehicles have used the Samruddhi Expressway. With a speed limit of 120 km/h on flat stretches and 100 km/h in hilly sections, the 701-km corridor crosses 392 villages in 26 talukas across 10 districts.

A Smart Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS) will soon be installed, ensuring safer, smoother journeys. The government also granted Right of Way to GAIL for the critical gas pipeline.

With the Samruddhi Expressway, Maharashtra has not only built a road but also laid the foundation for a greener, faster, and more interconnected future.