Nagpur to Shirdi division of Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway set to open August 15

After the United States of America and China, India has the third largest road network in the world, connecting every major city to the smallest town with its national roads, highways, and expressways. One such expressway project is the Mumbai-Nagpur expressway which is currently under-construction.

The Mumbai-Nagpur E-way was supposed to be opened in 2020, however, due to COVID-19, the project was delayed as a whole. Now, with the COVID scare at bay, authorities are pacing up to open the Nagpur to Shirdi division of the E-way for public use on August 15.

As per reports, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is building the project at an estimated cost of ₹55,000 crores. This ambitious 701 km long, six-lane expressway is expected to reduce the travel time between Mumbai and Nagpur from 18 hours to 9 hours.

The entire stretch between Mumbai and Nagpur will have 26 toll booths and will pass through, Nagpur, Wardha, Amravati, Washim, Buldhana, Jalna, Aurangabad, Nashik, Ahmednagar, and Thane. According to the official statement, a toll of ₹1,212 has been proposed for one-way journeys for light motor vehicles like cars and jeeps.

Proposed one way toll rates for other types of vehicles:

• Light Motor Commercial Vehicle (Light goods vehicle, minibus) - ₹1,955

• Heavy Vehicle (two axle like Bus, truck) - ₹4,100

• Heavy commercial vehicles (three-axle vehicles) - ₹4,472

• Heavy construction machinery - ₹6,435

• Oversized vehicles (multi axle-seven or more axles) - ₹7,830

Additionally, the 22 km long, Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) also known as the Sewri Nhava Sheva Trans Harbour Link, will connect Mumbai to Raigad. This project will reduce the travel time to 25 minutes from three hours. As of now, 50% of the work is already completed.

This cable-stay bridge will be the second-longest sea link in the world after the 42-km link between Qingdao and Huandao in China.