Nagpur-Mumbai Expressway Now Fully Open, Cuts Travel Time To 7 Hours With Smart Tunnel
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Samruddhi Mahamarg: The final leg of the Nagpur-Mumbai Expressway opens, featuring India's first smart tunnel with advanced fire safety and full mobile connectivity
Samruddhi Mahamarg Nagpur-Mumbai Expressway: Maharashtra marked a key infrastructure milestone with the full public opening of the Samruddhi Mahamarg (Expressway), which now seamlessly connects Nagpur to Mumbai. The final 76-kilometre stretch—from Igatpuri in Nashik to Amane in Thane—is now operational, completing the 701-kilometre corridor. A major highlight of this newly opened segment is the state's first smart tunnel, constructed through the challenging terrain of Kasara Ghat.
Innovative Tunnel Technology
The Kasara Ghat Tunnel is Maharashtra's longest road tunnel and India's fourth-longest, spanning 7.8 kilometres. It features cutting-edge safety and connectivity measures: continuous mobile network coverage via a leaky cable, emergency phones every 150 metres, public address speakers every 30 metres, and a full oxygen supply system. The tunnel is monitored by 26 fire alarm systems and an integrated access control setup with radio communication and CCTV surveillance.
A first in India, the tunnel also features an automatic high-pressure water mist fire suppression system, which activates when the temperature crosses 60°C—spraying water to quickly extinguish fires.
Construction Journey and Scale
Construction of the Samruddhi Mahamarg, also known as the Nagpur–Mumbai Super Communication Expressway, began in 2016. The now-complete expressway features six tunnels, 33 major bridges, 274 minor bridges, and 65 flyovers.
The newly opened tunnel section includes twin tubes with viaducts as high as 12.95 metres. Its construction required around 23,000 tonnes of cement and 400 tonnes of steel. Vehicles can pass through the tunnel in just seven minutes—offering substantial time savings for travellers.
Faster, Safer, Smarter Travel
With the expressway fully operational, travel time between Nagpur and Mumbai has been cut from over sixteen hours to just seven. Built to accommodate speeds of up to 150 km/h, the Samruddhi Mahamarg is the first expressway in India designed for such velocity. It spans 390 villages across 10 districts, with an estimated total project cost of Rs 55,000 crore.
First Published:
June 06, 2025, 10:10 IST
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