Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway: An expressway, a high-speed divided highway used to control fast-moving traffic, is necessary in most urban cities today. India has 44 expressways, the third-highest number in the world after China and the United States.
Supporting the country’s high population and its economic and transportation needs, the construction of expressways has transformed the lives of those living in and around these areas, significantly improving connectivity between key cities and regions. Having 13 expressways covering 1,500 km, Uttar Pradesh is the most connected state of India, followed by Maharashtra with 9 expressways.
The Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway in Maharashtra was recently opened for traffic. Let’s learn some facts about this ambitious project.
About Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway
The Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, officially known as the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, is named after the founder of Shiv Sena. It connects the cities of Mumbai and Nagpur within the state of Maharashtra.
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) website states that the expressway aims to accelerate further development in trade, business and industrialisation while ensuring overall socio-economic development and creating employment opportunities for locals.
The project seeks to boost agriculture, new townships, industrial hubs, integrated logistics and warehousing, tourism circuits and hospitality.
Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway Route Map
Spanning 701 km, the six-lane expressway runs through 392 villages across 10 districts (Nagpur, Wardha, Amravati, Washim, Buldhana, Jalna, Aurangabad, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Thane)
These are the cities and towns that the expressway connects:
- Bhiwandi
- Kalyan
- Shahapur
- Igatpuri (Nashik)
- Sinnar
- Kopargaon
- Shirdi
- Vaijapur
- Aurangabad
- Shendra
- Jalna
- Sindkhed Raja
- Mehkar
- Malegaon Jahangir
- Karanja Lad
- Dhamangaon
- Pulgaon
- Wardha
- Seloo
- Butibori Power Plant
- MIHAN SEZ (Nagpur)
Not only will Maharashtra become more interconnected, but the expressway will also connect the state with the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor.
Further, the expressway will make several tourist sites accessible, such as Shirdi, Ajanta, and Ellora caves, Lonar Lake, and Mahabaleshwar.
Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway Travel Time
It is estimated that the Route 701 km can be travelled in just 8 hours. The journey from Mumbai to Aurangabad, over 300 km apart, took approximately 6 hours. However, with the construction of the expressway, the travel time between the two cities has now been reduced to 4 hours. Similarly, the travel time from Aurangabad to Nagpur, which takes 6-7 hours, has been reduced to 4 hours. This is expected to save vehicles’ maintenance and repair costs.
Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway Speed Limit
The speed limit on the route is 120 km per hour on non-hilly terrains and 100 km per hour on hilly parts of the expressway. Vehicles with eight passenger seats must adhere to this speed limit.
The speed limit for vehicles with more than eight passenger seats has been reduced to 100 km per hour on non-hilly terrain and 80 km per hour in hilly regions.
Heavy vehicles, such as trucks, commercial vans, and full-size SUVs, must maintain a speed of 80 km per hour on all terrains.
Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway Vehicle Rules
Per a notification issued in October 2022, auto rickshaws, quadricycles and two-wheelers are prohibited on the Samruddhi Mahamarg Expressway.
Key Details about Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway
| Project Name | Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg |
| Major Junctions | Mumbai and Nagpur |
| Construction Status | Almost completed |
| Opening date | 2024 |
| Cost | Rs 55,000 crore |
| Length | 701 km |
| Lanes | Currently 6, expandable to 8 |
| Construction maintenance | MSRDC |
| Travel Time | 8 hours |
| State to be connected | Maharashtra |
| Major cities | Mumbai, Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Nashik, Shirdi, Aurangabad, Chatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Jalna, Wardha and Nagpur |
Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway Features & Facilities
- The expressway is expected to accelerate economic growth and make the journey convenient and enjoyable for travellers, with the following features and facilities available:
- A six-lane expressway, which can accommodate high traffic, can be widened to eight lanes to streamline traffic flow
- There are 65 flyovers, 33 major bridges, 274 minor bridges, 6 tunnels, 189 underpasses, 8 railway overbridges, 25 interchanges, 110 underpasses for light vehicles, 209 underpasses for animals and pedestrians, and 8 passes for wildlife movement.
- An energy-efficient project, it has electric vehicle charging stations at regular intervals and solar plants generating 250MW energy.
- The fastest communication service has been made available
- WiFi and telephone services have been provided on the roadside
- CCTV cameras have been installed every 5 km to monitor vehicles for speeding, lane discipline and breakdowns.
- Over 11 lakh trees have been planted on both sides of the highway to reduce pollution and provide a scenic view to travellers.
- The expressway passes through three wildlife sanctuaries: Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary, Tadoba Andheri Tiger Reserve, and Bench National Park.
- In emergencies, the expressway can also function as a runway for aeroplanes to enable fast response.
Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway Cost
The project’s total cost, including the land acquisition amount, is estimated at Rs. 55,000 crore.
Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway Toll and Rates
| Type of vehicle | Samruddhi Mahamarg toll charges per km | Oneway toll charges between Mumbai Nagpur Expressway |
| Light Motor Vehicle (Car, Jeep) | Rs 1.73 | Rs 1,212 |
| Light Motor Commercial Vehicle (Light goods vehicle, minibus) | Rs 2.79 | Rs 1,955 |
| Heavy Vehicle (two-axle like Bus, truck) | Rs 5.85 | Rs 4,100 |
| Heavy commercial vehicles (three-axle vehicles) | Rs 6.38 | Rs 4,472 |
| Heavy construction machinery | Rs 9.18 | Rs 6,435 |
| Oversized vehicles (multi axle- seven or more axles) | Rs 11.17 | Rs 7,830 |