Samruddhi Expressway Nears Completion: Final Phase And Thane Creek Bridge May Open On May 1

The last part of the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway, which is 76 kilometres long and runs from Igatpuri to Amane, may be opened on May 1, Maharashtra's foundation day, according to a Hindustan Times (HT) report. The south-bound carriageway of the Thane Creek Bridge is also likely to be inaugurated on the same day.

Both projects are now ready for use. Anil Gaikwad, Managing Director of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), said, "Once opened, connectivity to Navi Mumbai, Pune, and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport will improve greatly."

The Samruddhi Expressway is a major project started during the time of former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. It was planned to provide faster road travel between Mumbai and Nagpur and improve road transport in the state.

The project has been completed in phases. The first phase, between Nagpur and Shirdi, was opened in December 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The second phase, from Shirdi to Bharvir in Nashik, was launched in May 2023 by then Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The third part, from Bharvir to Igatpuri, was inaugurated in March 2024 by then MSRDC Minister Dada Bhuse.

The final stretch, from Igatpuri to Amane, will complete the 701-kilometre expressway. According to sources, the Maharashtra government may request Prime Minister Modi to inaugurate the last phase, as he will be in Mumbai on 1 May for the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit at Bandra Kurla Complex.

Once fully open, the expressway is expected to reduce travel time between Mumbai and Nagpur and make transport smoother across major cities in Maharashtra.