A major infrastructure undertaking is reshaping connectivity in Eastern Vidarbha. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has initiated three expressway projects, valued at Rs 56,275 crore, as part of the ‘Eastern Corridor.’ These projects are intended to enhance the Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, providing direct links from border districts to Nagpur and onward to Mumbai.
The Nagpur-Chandrapur Expressway, a 191-kilometer stretch, is a cornerstone of this initiative. It will originate from Seldoh in Nagpur district and terminate at Navegaon-More in Pombhurna taluka, Chandrapur district, with an additional 12-kilometer connector to Chandrapur city. The project, a four-lane, access-controlled expressway, has a budget of Rs 21,702 crore, with the detailed project report (DPR) currently in progress.
The Nagpur–Gondia Expressway forms another critical component, comprising a 162-kilometer route. It features a 144-kilometer main road, a 12-kilometer Tiroda connector, and a 3-kilometer Gondia bypass, costing a total of Rs 21,670 crore. This expressway will begin at Gavsi Manapur village in Nagpur and extend to Sawari village in Gondia district. A sum of Rs 3,162 crore was approved by the state cabinet for this project last month. The expressway will pass through 117 villages across Nagpur, Bhandara, and Gondia districts and will utilize approximately 1,604 hectares of land. Travel time between Nagpur and Gondia will be drastically reduced from three hours to just 1.15 hours upon completion.
The Bhandara–Gadchiroli Expressway is another key project, spanning 94 kilometers and estimated at Rs 12,903 crore. Approved in December 2023, it will commence at the Savarkhanda interchange on the proposed Nagpur-Gondia Expressway, reaching Armori in Gadchiroli district. Land acquisition will require 1,013.58 hectares, with an estimated cost of Rs 534 crore. Construction is expected to commence soon, with work orders for all three packages already issued.
The expressways are projected to be completed within 30 months. The goal is to provide seamless connectivity from Mumbai or Nagpur to Chandrapur, Gondia, and Gadchiroli, ensuring eastern Vidarbha is fully integrated into the state’s development trajectory. The projects aim to reduce travel times and freight movement, boost economic growth, draw in investment, and enhance access to this infrastructure-deficient region. The Rs 56,275 crore investment represents a significant commitment to the region’s infrastructure, aimed at bridging the developmental divide between east and west.