Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway To Get Lifesaving Pit Stops In Six Months: What’s In Store For Motorists?

The Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway is set to receive new wayside amenities within the next six months, as per the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).

Nearly two years after its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, motorists travelling along the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg have been left without essential services such as fuel stations, eateries, public toilets, garages, and first aid clinics.

This lack of facilities has increased the risks for drivers, particularly due to the phenomenon known as highway hypnosis, which can cause drivers to become less alert and more prone to accidents.

Currently, the expressway spans 701 kilometres, with 625 kilometres open to traffic. However, the stretch between Igatpuri and Mumbai is still under development. Because the route is access-controlled, motorists face difficulty finding necessary amenities, often having to exit the expressway in search of services, which poses an inconvenience and increases risks.

In a bid to address this gap, the MSRDC has initiated plans to develop 16 wayside hubs along the expressway. These hubs will offer a range of facilities, including parking spaces for different types of vehicles, garages for minor repairs, restaurants, public conveniences, and first aid clinics. Each hub will cover approximately four hectares, with the exception of one which will be three hectares. The larger part of the area will be allocated to parking, with one hectare reserved for the amenities themselves.

Previously, in mid-2023, MSRDC had floated tenders to establish four hubs along the expressway. However, the process was cancelled due to technical reasons. In this revised plan, there will be eight hubs in each direction, and land has been allocated for fuel stations at 24 locations along the highway. The tenders for developing these hubs were re-issued earlier this month. After private players are appointed, they will be expected to set up these facilities within three months.

MSRDC officials also revealed that each private operator will be given a 60-year contract to manage these hubs. Initially, services will be offered through portable cabins, with more permanent structures to be built over time.

This development is expected to enhance safety and convenience for motorists and reduce the risks associated with long, uninterrupted stretches of road.