Samruddhi Mahamarg, Known As Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, Final Stretch Open Connecting Igapuri To Amane
The Samruddhi Mahamarg is a key expressway connecting Mumbai and Nagpur. However, the final stretch from Igatpuri to Amane, spanning 76 Km, wasn’t complete. The completion of the final stretch has significantly reduced travel time between Mumbai and Nagpur, enhancing transportation convenience between the two cities.
Kasara Ghat Tunnel
The most notable highlight of this stretch is the completion of the Kasara Ghat tunnel, widely known as the state’s first smart tunnel. The tunnel features a continuous mobile network via leaky cables, emergency phones every 150 metres, public address speakers every 30 metres and a full oxygen supply. There are 26 fire alarm systems and an integrated access control setup with radio communication and CCTV surveillance.
The Kasara Ghat tunnel is also equipped with an automatic high-pressure water mist fire suppression system. The system activates when the temperature exceeds 60 Degrees Celsius, spraying water to extinguish fires. It is Maharashtra’s longest road tunnel and the country’s fourth-longest tunnel, spanning 7.8 Km.
Outlook
The Nagpur-Mumbai Super Communication Expressway, known as the Samruddhi Mahamarg, began construction in 2016. It comprises 6 tunnels, 33 major bridges, and 65 flyovers. The tunnel section consists of two parallel tubes with viaducts reaching a height of 12.95 metres each.
The construction of the tunnels required 23,000 tonnes of cement and 400 tonnes of steel. The vehicles can pass through the smart tunnel in just 7 minutes. This expressway is designed to accommodate speeds of up to 150 Km/hr and was constructed at a cost of Rs. 55,000 crore. This project has successfully decreased the travel time between Nagpur and Mumbai from 16 hours to just 7 hours, greatly improving connectivity between the two cities.
