Vidarbha gets nod for 3 new expressways, tenders soon for two stretches

Preparations to expand the road network in Vidarbha have picked up pace. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is set to invite fresh tenders for three major expressway projects over the next two weeks. These include the Nagpur-Gondia, Bhandara-Gadchiroli and Nagpur-Chandrapur expressways. Besides these, the Navegaon More-Surjagarh greenfield highway is also being seen as a key project for the region.

Land acquisition for all these expressways is progressing alongside. The Maharashtra cabinet has already cleared taking a loan from HUDCO for this acquisition. Interestingly, all these proposed expressways are being seen as extensions of the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway, aimed at strengthening connectivity in Vidarbha further.

The Nagpur-Gondia expressway will be around 162 kilometres long and is estimated to cost about Rs 3,162 crore. Once built, the journey from Nagpur to Gondia, which currently takes around three hours, will be cut to about 75 minutes. This expressway will pass through 10 talukas and 115 villages in Nagpur, Bhandara and Gondia districts. The route will feature 26 flyovers, 8 underpasses, 15 major bridges, 63 minor bridges and 71 canal crossings.

The second project is the Bhandara-Gadchiroli expressway, about 94 kilometres long, estimated to cost around Rs 931.15 crore. This four-lane greenfield expressway will connect areas such as Bhandara, Lakhandur, Brahmapuri, Armori and Gadchiroli. Once completed, the journey from Bhandara to Gadchiroli will be cut to around two hours, reducing the distance by about 23 kilometres and saving around 75 minutes of travel time.

The Navegaon More-Surjagarh greenfield highway is also considered significant for Vidarbha, as it could provide better transport connectivity for a proposed steel plant and mining activities in the area, directly benefiting industry.