Motorists Brace for Delays on NH3 as Samruddhi Mahamarg Connection Remains Unfinished

Travelers heading to and from Igatpuri are set to face ongoing delays along the challenging National Highway 3 for at least another six weeks. The incomplete connection between the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg and the Old Highway is causing significant disruptions for motorists.

Officials from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) indicated that the spur linking the Samruddhi Expressway to the Old Nashik Highway was initially expected to be completed by the end of September or early October. However, unforeseen delays have pushed the timeline further back.

In infrastructure terms, a spur is a short road that branches off from a main highway, providing vital links to other routes. Currently, 625 kilometers of the Samruddhi Mahamarg, which stretches from Mumbai to Nagpur, are operational. This ambitious project has been rolled out in three phases, starting with the 520 km section from Nagpur to Shirdi inaugurated on December 11, 2022. Subsequent phases opened sections from Shirdi to Bharvir on May 23, 2023, and the final stretch to Igatpuri on March 4, 2024.

The last remaining stretch includes 76 km from Igatpuri to Amane, plus an additional 4 km segment between Amane and Vadape on NH3, which is still under construction. An MSRDC official explained that land acquisition challenges delayed progress, as the alignment runs through warehouses used by pharmaceutical and other companies. Although all necessary acquisition procedures were completed, warehouse operators required additional time to relocate their inventories, further complicating the timeline.

Construction activities are also hindered by weather conditions, as work can only proceed during dry spells to ensure proper curing of the cement-concrete mixture. Once the 4 km stretch is finalized, motorists will benefit from improved access to the expressway, although a nearby bridge at Kasara Ghat will remain unfinished until further notice.