For years, traveling between Nagpur and Mumbai was an ordeal. The journey took a gruelling 16-18 hours, making movement slow and development sluggish. Vidarbha and Marathwada—regions brimming with agricultural and industrial potential—were held back by poor connectivity. Without easy access to Mumbai and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), businesses struggled to expand and industries failed to flourish. Job opportunities remained limited, pushing many to migrate to urban centres in search of work.

Need for a Game-Changer

The older highway was simply not enough to support the aspirations of 24 districts. Without efficient transport links, industries couldn’t grow and agricultural goods couldn’t reach major markets on time. The economic potential of Vidarbha and Marathwada remained largely untapped, leaving behind a development gap that needed urgent attention.

Recognising this, the government decided to take a bold step—one that would redefine Maharashtra’s infrastructure landscape. A detailed project report and feasibility study were conducted to assess costs, benefits and long-term viability. With approvals secured and funding arranged from banks and the state, the stage was set for a revolutionary project: Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Samruddhi Mahamarg.

Building the Super Expressway

Building such a massive expressway required careful planning, particularly in land acquisition. Stakeholder consultations were held to ensure smooth implementation and farmers were provided adequate compensation. The focus was on creating an infrastructure project that balanced development with fairness.

The results were remarkable. The expressway slashed travel time from 16-18 hours to just 7-8 hours, making movement between Nagpur and Mumbai faster and more efficient. Ten districts were directly connected, while 14 more districts benefited indirectly, transforming the economy of 24 districts in total.

Leasing a Boom

With improved connectivity, industries and agriculture received a major boost. Farmers could now transport their produce swiftly to Mumbai and JNPT, reducing wastage and increasing profits. Agro-based and manufacturing industries, which once struggled due to poor infrastructure, found new growth opportunities. As businesses flourished, employment generation improved, reducing migration pressures on cities.

The expressway also unlocked new tourism potential. Faster travel made previously overlooked districts attractive to visitors, creating additional revenue streams for local economies.

Innovation

Unlike conventional roads, it was designed as a high-speed expressway that drastically cut travel time. By ensuring direct connectivity to Mumbai and JNPT, it created a seamless economic corridor linking industries, ports and markets. This project demonstrated how smart infrastructure could solve decades-old problems and set new benchmarks for future development.