<p>India’s longest expressway that would connect the financial capital of Mumbai to Nagpur will be fully operational by May 1, 2022. Though there was some delay because of <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">Covid-19</a>-forced lockdowns, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Ltd (MSRDC) is racing against time to make it operational in three phases.</p>.<p>The 701-km-long highway - Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg - will be the longest expressway in India. The expressway will connect 10 districts, 26 talukas and 392 villages.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-india-world-coronavirus-vaccine-karnataka-maharashtra-tamil-nadu-delhi-kerala-gujarat-bengal-bengaluru-mumbai-new-delhi-chennai-kolkata-cases-deaths-recoveries-AstraZeneca-Oxford-898877.html" target="_blank">For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here</a></strong></p>.<p>The expressway has been named Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg in memory of the Shiv Sena founder.</p>.<p>“The land acquisition is fully complete. The construction has started. It is a big challenge. The project is being built in 16 packages,” said MSRDC Vice Chairman and Managing Director Radheshyam Mopalwar.</p>.<p>The project cost is Rs 55,532 crore, Mopalwar said at a virtual media meet on Thursday during which he was accompanied by Joint Managing Directors Chandrakant Pulkundwar and Anil Gaikwad.</p>.<p>The Nagpur to Shirdi leg – around 520 km - would be complete by May 1, 2021, while the Nagpur-Igatpuri – 620 km - would be ready by December 1, 2021. The full Mumbai-Nagpur project would be ready by May 1, 2022.</p>.<p>It passes through 10 districts of Nagpur, Wardha, Amravati, Washim, Buldhana, Aurangabad, Jalna, Ahmednagar, Nashik and Thane.</p>.<p>More than 20,000 persons are involved in the mega-project, which is unique in many respects.</p>.<p>The design speed of the expressway will be 150 kmph. It will have 3+1 lanes on either side of the median, concrete pavement. </p>.<p>The expressway will have underpasses for wildlife/cattle to cross. Over 400 vehicular underpasses, over 300 pedestrian underpasses and cattle underpasses will be provided at every village/town and alignment will avoid passing through major town/city. It will have over 50 flyovers. There would also be flyover/interchange at major road crossings.</p>.<p>All the recommendations of Wildlife Institute of India and the high-powered committee headed by Maharashtra’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) have been fully accepted.</p>.<p>The government is also making 19 townships along the corridor. “We will be providing trunk services like road, power and water. We will open government offices. This is actually a long-term plan,” he said.</p>
<p>India’s longest expressway that would connect the financial capital of Mumbai to Nagpur will be fully operational by May 1, 2022. Though there was some delay because of <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">Covid-19</a>-forced lockdowns, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Ltd (MSRDC) is racing against time to make it operational in three phases.</p>.<p>The 701-km-long highway - Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg - will be the longest expressway in India. The expressway will connect 10 districts, 26 talukas and 392 villages.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-india-world-coronavirus-vaccine-karnataka-maharashtra-tamil-nadu-delhi-kerala-gujarat-bengal-bengaluru-mumbai-new-delhi-chennai-kolkata-cases-deaths-recoveries-AstraZeneca-Oxford-898877.html" target="_blank">For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here</a></strong></p>.<p>The expressway has been named Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg in memory of the Shiv Sena founder.</p>.<p>“The land acquisition is fully complete. The construction has started. It is a big challenge. The project is being built in 16 packages,” said MSRDC Vice Chairman and Managing Director Radheshyam Mopalwar.</p>.<p>The project cost is Rs 55,532 crore, Mopalwar said at a virtual media meet on Thursday during which he was accompanied by Joint Managing Directors Chandrakant Pulkundwar and Anil Gaikwad.</p>.<p>The Nagpur to Shirdi leg – around 520 km - would be complete by May 1, 2021, while the Nagpur-Igatpuri – 620 km - would be ready by December 1, 2021. The full Mumbai-Nagpur project would be ready by May 1, 2022.</p>.<p>It passes through 10 districts of Nagpur, Wardha, Amravati, Washim, Buldhana, Aurangabad, Jalna, Ahmednagar, Nashik and Thane.</p>.<p>More than 20,000 persons are involved in the mega-project, which is unique in many respects.</p>.<p>The design speed of the expressway will be 150 kmph. It will have 3+1 lanes on either side of the median, concrete pavement. </p>.<p>The expressway will have underpasses for wildlife/cattle to cross. Over 400 vehicular underpasses, over 300 pedestrian underpasses and cattle underpasses will be provided at every village/town and alignment will avoid passing through major town/city. It will have over 50 flyovers. There would also be flyover/interchange at major road crossings.</p>.<p>All the recommendations of Wildlife Institute of India and the high-powered committee headed by Maharashtra’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) have been fully accepted.</p>.<p>The government is also making 19 townships along the corridor. “We will be providing trunk services like road, power and water. We will open government offices. This is actually a long-term plan,” he said.</p>
