One of India's most ambitious infrastructure projects, the Mumbai Nagpur Expressway, is expected to reinvent connectivity and transportation in Maharashtra. The lengthy motorway between these two state's biggest cities is expected to significantly shorten travel time. This article will look at the Mumbai Nagpur Expressway route map, the cities it passes through, the advantages it provides, and its anticipated completion date.

Mumbai Nagpur Expressway Map

Check out the Mumbai Nagpur Expressway map below for a better knowledge of the route:

The Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, often known as the Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, is a new construction project that crosses a significant portion of Maharashtra. It intends to link Nagpur in the east with the thriving city of Mumbai in the west. The highway passes through a number of important cities and areas, improving connection throughout the state.

What are the Cities Covered in Mumbai Nagpur Expressway?

The Mumbai Nagpur Expressway connects numerous cities and areas, promoting better connection, development, and economic progress. The following are some of the notable cities and regions it includes:

Mumbai: The starting point of the expressway and the financial capital of India. Thane: An adjacent city to Mumbai, serving as a significant residential and industrial hub. Bhiwandi: Located at the center of Bhiwandi, a pivotal industrial town. Kalyan: To the north of Kalyan, a thriving urban center. Shahapur: To the south of Shahapur, a region with industrial significance. Igatpuri (Nashik): To the south of Igatpuri in Nashik, known for its scenic beauty. Sinnar: To the south of Sinnar, a region fostering industrial growth. Kopargaon: To the south of Kopargaon, contributing to the expressway's connectivity. Shirdi: To the north of Shirdi, a renowned pilgrimage town. Vaijapur: To the south of Vaijapur, an area facilitating regional connectivity. Aurangabad Caves: To the north of Aurangabad Caves, a significant archaeological site. Shendra: To the north of Shendra, contributing to industrial development. Jalna: To the north of Jalna, an industrial town. Sindkhed Raja: To the north of Sindkhed Raja, fostering connectivity. Mehkar: To the north of Mehkar, enhancing accessibility. Malegaon Jahangir: To the north of Malegaon Jahangir, contributing to the expressway's route. Karanja Lad: To the north of Karanja Lad, a region fostering connectivity. Dhamangaon: To the south of Dhamangaon, facilitating regional development. Pulgaon: To the north of Pulgaon, contributing to connectivity. Wardha: To the north of Wardha, a significant city along the route. Seloo: To the south of Seloo, enhancing connectivity. Butibori Power Plant: Located to the west of the Butibori Power Plant, a crucial industrial area. MIHAN SEZ (Nagpur): To the south of MIHAN SEZ in Nagpur, a special economic zone fostering development.

These locations represent the diverse regions and cities that will benefit from the Mumbai Nagpur Expressway's enhanced connectivity and accessibility.

What are the Benefits of the Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway?

Reduced Travel Time: The Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway shortens travel time between the cities from 14 hours to just 8-10 hours, greatly improving accessibility and convenience for travelers.

Economic Prosperity: Smart cities, commercial corridors, and investment areas are being developed to attract capital and create jobs. The expressway connects the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor and Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, boosting EXIM trade.

Agricultural Transformation: Samruddhi Corridor boosts local agriculture with export-ready infrastructure and food markets.

New Townships & Industrial Hubs: New townships will be developed along the Hindu Hruday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg to provide economic opportunities in rural areas. The plan includes creating 18 townships and establishing economic nodes for job creation and managing migration.

Green corridor project & Wildlife: Over 1.1 million trees will be planted on both sides of a new expressway, creating the largest 'Greenfield' route alignment in the country. Measures recommended by the Wildlife Institute of India will be taken to ensure the safety of wildlife, including building infrastructure like livestock underpasses.

Integrated Logistics & Warehousing Hubs: Warehousing hubs are located near industrial sites for efficient storage and logistics. Truck terminals and bus bays at key economic nodes enhance the supply chain for domestic markets. New townships are being constructed in Wardha, Buldhana, and Aurangabad by the State Warehousing Corporation.

Tourism Circuits & Hospitality: The government plans to boost travel and hospitality along the highway route by developing various tourism circuits, including ecotourism, pilgrimage tourism, and historical tourism. These circuits would offer restaurants, shops, tiger safaris, wildlife resorts, museums, and nearby attractions like Lonar Lake, Ellora-Ajanta Caves, Pench National Park, Shegaon, Sevagram, Shirdi, Daulatabad Fort, and Bibi Ka Maqbara.

Timeline of Mumbai Nagpur Expressway

The Mumbai Nagpur Expressway project unfolds in multiple phases, with its timeline contingent upon the completion of each phase.

May 2016: The project initiated with the appointment of five design consultants tasked with creating the Detailed Project Report (DPR). January 2017: A significant step was taken when Request for Qualification (RfQ) bids for civil works were opened. May 2017: The formation of Nagpur Mumbai Super Communication Expressway Limited, a public company, marked a pivotal moment in the project's development. July 2017: The crucial process of land acquisition began, a fundamental aspect of the project's progress. May 2018: MSRDC (Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation) reviewed and opened financial bids submitted by qualified contractors, a critical step in the selection process. May 2018: The Government of Maharashtra officially granted approval for the Concession Agreement, solidifying its commitment to the project. June 2018: The identification of the lowest bidders for 13 out of 16 packages marked a significant milestone, with bidding for the remaining 3 packages anticipated soon. November 2018: Land acquisition was in full swing, with contractors identified for all 16 packages. Construction work was poised to commence in December. January 2019: MSRDC awarded contracts for all 16 packages to 13 contractors, heralding the beginning of road construction. September 2019: Maharashtra's Minister of Public Works, Eknath Shinde, set expectations for the expressway's completion by 2022. November 2019: Progress was evident, with the expressway having reached 22% completion by this point. March 2020: Substantial land acquisition progress was reported, coinciding with ongoing paving work for the expressway. July 2020: With 45% of the work completed, the expressway was anticipated to be operational in two segments: Nagpur to Igatpuri by December 2021 and Igatpuri to Amane by May 2022. October 2020: The timeline was refined, outlining the expected operational segments: Nagpur to Shirdi by May 2021 and Nagpur to Igatpuri by December 2021, with full completion by May 2022. May 2021: The opening of the Nagpur to Shirdi stretch was delayed, now expected by September 2021. July 2021: Progress on the 7.78 km Igatpuri tunnel reached 60% completion, marking a significant engineering feat. August 2021: The Igatpuri tunnel was projected to be completed by September-end. September 2021: The Igatpuri tunnel, Maharashtra's longest road tunnel and India's widest, was successfully completed, with ongoing work on the expressway's pavement and lighting installation. Full completion was anticipated by December. March 2022: The Nagpur to Shirdi stretch was on track for opening in early May 2022. April 2022: A 210 km stretch from Shivmadka to Shelu Bazar (Washim district) was set to open by 2 May 2022. April 2022: The opening faced a delay due to damage to the wildlife overpass near Nagpur. April 2022: The project's phases were expected to be fully operational by August. July 2022: The inauguration of the first leg, spanning 520 km from Nagpur to Shirdi, was confirmed for 15 August 2022. The remaining stretch from Shirdi to Mumbai was originally slated for early 2023 but was delayed, with a new tentative date of 24 October 2023. December 2022: The first phase, from Nagpur to Shirdi, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 11 December, while the second phase from Shirdi to Mumbai was projected to open in June 2023. January 2023: The second phase, extending to Mumbai, was rescheduled for a December 2023 opening. May 2023: Another significant achievement saw an additional 80 km open from Shirdi to Bharvir Khurd near Igatpuri on 26 May 2023.

Conclusion

The Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway is a significant undertaking that has the potential to drastically alter the state of Maharashtra's geography and redefine connectivity and transportation. It has the ability to stimulate economic growth, drastically cut down on travel time, and open doors to new trade and business opportunities by connecting multiple cities and regions. This enormous project promises to bring in a period of advancement, development, and transformation for the state of Maharashtra as it moves forward.