Mumbai: The final remaining 76-kilometer stretch—from Igatpuri to Amane in Thane—is ready and all set for grand opening on June 5th for traffic. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and both Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar to witness the inaugural ceremony to be held at Igatpuri.

Samruddhi Mahamarg is officially named as Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg.

According to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), which has overseen the ambitious 701-kilometer corridor, the final segment connecting Mumbai has been completed. A formal proposal was earlier submitted to the state government seeking a date for the inauguration. Now that has been cleared and as per on June 5th the remaining completed stretch will be open to the public, completing one of India's most significant infrastructure projects in recent years.

The final phase was originally expected to be operational by September or October of last year. However, the delay was caused by an incomplete spur road work linking Amane to the under-construction Vadodara–Mumbai Expressway, providing crucial access to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) Road. With the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) now completed this connection, officials confirm that seamless integration into the existing highway network is assured.

This final stretch brings significant advantages as it helps bypass the steep and winding Kasara Ghat ensuring safe travelling experience. The new Samruddhi Mahamarag route cuts travel time between Amane and Igatpuri drastically.

Currently, 625 kilometers of the Samruddhi Mahamarg—from Nagpur to Igatpuri— is open for Traffic.

Once the final segment is inaugurated, the corridor will reduce travel time between Nagpur and Thane from 16 hours to a swift eight hours, transforming how people and goods move across Maharashtra. It is expected to serve as a critical artery for logistics, tourism, and economic development.

Parallel to the final leg of the expressway, the MSRDC is also executing another key infrastructure upgrade such expanding the heavily congested 21.6-kilometer stretch of the old Mumbai-Nashik Highway between Vadpe and Majiwada in Thane. This corridor, which sees a massive load of commercial vehicles due to the presence of large warehouses in Bhiwandi, is being widened from four to eight lanes.

The highway expansion project, with an estimated cost of Rs 1,182 crore, is being implemented under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), in which MSRDC and NHAI share the upfront costs. NHAI will repay MSRDC in installments over a 15-year period, ensuring a sustainable financial framework.

As the expansion work is still ongoing till then state has decided to open the Samrudddhi Mahamarg final stretch of the newly constructed highway.

Samruddhi Mahamarg: Final Stretch Ready for Inauguration

* Final 76 km Stretch (Igatpuri–Amane, Thane)

*Benefit: Bypasses Kasara Ghat

* Travel Time: Reduced from 90+ mins to 30-40 mins

Full Corridor Impact:

* Total Length:701 km (Nagpur to Thane)

* Opened So Far:625 km operational

* Travel Time Reduction:

*Before: 16 hours

*After Completion:8 hours