The Samruddhi Mahamarg, officially named the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg (HHBTMSM) in tribute to the late Shiv Sena founder, is set to transform travel across Maharashtra.
This initiative promises to transform mobility, boost economic growth and bring connections to new heights.
According to reports, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) intends to open the remaining stretch of HHBTMSM by November this year. While the expressway is now operating up to Igatpuri, the 78-kilometer section between Igatpuri and Amane village in Thane is still under construction.
“We have completed close to 90 percent of the work and what remains is the 1.8 km long Khardi bridge on the Kasara ghat section that is causing a major challenge. The work on the 8-km-long tunnel has also been completed. The 701-km-long expressway is of six lanes, but it would narrow down to four lanes at Khardi bridge for the time being,” Free Press Journal quoted a senior MSRDC official as saying.
Managing director (MD) of MSRDC, Anilkumar Gaikwad explained that the entire expressway has three lanes on each side. Traffic till Mumbai will be opened in August and only the bridge portion would have a four-lane road with two lanes operating in each direction, he noted. “This would be a temporary arrangement and we have plans to open the remaining lanes of the bridge for traffic by November, thereby making operational the entire expressway a six-lane project,” Gaikwad said as reported by The Times of India.
When asked about the cause for the delay in bridge construction, the MSRDC MD stated that there is no delay as such. However, the bridge is being built at a significant height and strong winds make construction activities difficult. “We must also care for the wildlife that passes through. However, we are working around the clock to construct the bridge by October or November,” he added.
The HHBTMSM has a Greenfield alignment and is designed for a top speed of 150 kmph. The right of way (ROW) is 120m in non-forested areas and 90m in forested areas.
In addition to the earthen shoulder, the expressway features a 15m central median and a 2m paved shoulder. Underpasses for wildlife and cattle crossings have been suitably built and have flyovers/interchanges at important road crossings. The HHBTMSM also includes vehicular and pedestrian underpasses (VUPs) in each village/town, as well as a routing that avoids big towns.
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