Phase-1 of Nagpur-Mumbai Expressway hits hurdle, inauguration delayed due to wildlife overpass damage

The wildlife overpass on the Nagpur Mumbai Super Communication Expressway has suffered damage due to an accident, delaying the opening. File pic

There is some bad news for motorists eagerly awaiting the opening of the first phase of the Nagpur-Mumbai Super Communication Expressway next month. The inauguration has been delayed by the damage to a wildlife overpass. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was to inaugurate the 210-km stretch of the expressway, from Nagpur to Shelu Bazar, on May 2. Now, it is expected to open in over a month.

"At 15 km from the zero-km mark, the work of wildlife overpass is in progress. The super structure of the overpass is of arch design and the work was expected to be over by April 30. But some of the 105 strips of the overpass have suffered damage due to an accident. Experts visited the site and it was decided that a new super structure will be constructed, which will take 45 days. Without the construction of a wildlife overpass, the expressway cannot be open to the public, hence the inauguration has been pushed ahead," said an MSRDC official.

The 701-km expressway, also known as the Hindu Hruday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, will be the first green highway with the facility of a helipad for air ambulance.