The Samruddhi Mahamarg or the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackrey Maharsthra Samruddhi Mahamarg is ushering a new era of super express speed travel in India. Also known as the Mumbai Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway, this six-lane, 701km highway cuts across 392 villages in 10 districts. But it’s most astounding achievement is that it aims to reduce the travel time between Mumbai and Nagpur to approximately 8 hours. Yes, it used to take more than 15 hours to travel from Mumbai to Nagpur via road. But this highway will cut the travel time to almost half!
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation of the highway in 2018. Today, two phases of the highway are functional. The third phase is expected to be over by end of 2023.
About Samruddhi Marg
The project aims to help in the economic development of the region. The expressway from Jawaharlal Nehru Post Trust or JNPT in Mumbai connects to the Multimodal International Hub Airport Nagpur or MIHAN on the other end. En route it will connect major cities and towns of Maharashtra and has a whooping 65 flyovers, 24 interchanges, 300 vehicular underpasses, 6 tunnels, 400 pedestrian underpasses, as well as cattle underpasses.
The benefits of this extensive highway construction and connection primarily include much faster travel time. It will help promote trade by connecting the Mumbai Nagpur Highway to other expressways, such as Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor etc. Also, the highway will improve the economic condition of the towns and villages it passes through and also benefit in transport of goods and services. Finally, it will defiantly boost tourism, as it connects some of the major tourist destinations of the state.
Samruddhi Mahamarg Route Map
The Samruddhi Maharmarg passes through Nagpur, Wardha, Amravati, Washim, Buldhana, Jalna, Aurangabad, Nashik, Ahmednagar and Thane.
Some of the other important cities and attractions that the highway connects are Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Igatpuri, Kopargaon, Shirdi, Aurangabad Caves, Mehkar, Dhamangaon, Butibori Power Plant and more.
Interestingly, several popular tourist attractions of Maharashtra are only a few kilometers from the highway and can be accessed easily and quickly through feeder roads. The connectivity will boost pilgrimages, eco tourism, heritage tourism, safaris, museum visits, theme park visits and more. Some of these include Sai Teerth Theme Park Shirdi 5km, Bibi ka Maqbara 5km, Pandavleni Caves 7km, Trimbakeshwar Shiv Temple 14km, Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary 60km, Ramdham Cultural Theme Park 95km, Pench National Park 95km and many more.
Samruddhi Mahamarg Shirdi
Shirdi receives thousands of devotees and tourists each year. It is thus, inevitable for Shirdi to find its place on the Samruddhi Mahamarg. Home to Sai Baba for over five decades, it is place where the mortal remains of the beloved spiritual leader rest. The Sai Mandir, Gurusthan, Dwarkamai and Sai Teerth Theme Park are famous attractions of the town. Thus, it is not surprising, that the first phase of the Mumbai Nagpur Highway connects Shirdi.
The first phase of the Mumbai Nagpur Highway was inaugurated in December 2022 by Mr. Narendra Modi. This route connects Nagpur to Shirdi covering a length of 502km. The Samruddhi Mahamarg Nagpur to Shirdi is a dream come true for devotees as their travel time reduces drastically. Similarly, Mumbai to Shridi via Samruddhi Mahamarg will also have the same impact, or even more, since Mumbai is the most well-connected city of India, both domestically and internationally. Thus, devotees from India and abroad can go from Mumbai to Shirdi via Samruddhi Mahamarg availing of the splendid facilities, infrastructure and speed along the way. The same holds true when traveling from Shirdi to Mumbai via Samruddhi Marg.
The second phase of Samuddhi Mahamarg opened on May 2022, connecting Shirdi and Bharvir in Igatpuri district in Nashik. The second phase was inaugurated by Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The third and last phase of the Expressway is expected to open in December 2023.
Features and Highlights of the Express Highway
The highway when completed is expected to have 30000 to 35000 vehicles plying on it each day. It is an engineering marvel for sure, but it is no less for aesthetic consideration as well. The beautification of the highway is attractive with its bridges, lightening patterns, landscaping, digital signage and more. Also, it is an energy efficient model, using energy from solar plants and providing for electrical charging points for eco friendly vehicles. The highway will be lined with utilitarian and recreational outlets, such as food plazas, rest areas, as well as, new townships that are proposed along its length. Some of the new townships that will come up in the near future are Virul in Vardha, Shivnil in Amravati, Hadas in Aurangabad, Fugale in Thane and more.
Also, to avoid accidents the conditions of tyres will be checked at the entry and exit points of the highway. The speeding limit is 120 km per hour on flat surfaces and 100 km on hilly surfaces.
The Samuddhi Marg is an ambitious project that aims to benefit travelers, traders, farmers, devotees and more. Also, the Samuddhi Mahamarg route map is well planned promoting tourism and allowing easy, efficient and quick access to different attractions, whether it is spiritual such as Shirdi, natural such as national parks and sanctuaries, or cultural such as the different towns and cities. A ride along this super expressway is highly recommended!
