[JoshMachine]

Originally Posted by RedTerrano

Sharing some stunning pics, sourced from social media.
---
Can't wait to glide down the velvet myself!

Thanks for sharing those great pictures

This should really be a game changer bringing down the overall time from the current 14-15 hours to about half.

For folks like me, who do trips between Pune and Nagpur, really looking forward to taking my A4 out on this "super expressway"!

[anjan_c2007]

The Prime Minister has inaugurated a 520 km stretch connecting Nagpur with Shirdi today morning and drove for some distance on it.

https://twitter.com/TOI_Nagpur/statu...8LprGB54A&s=19

Some more images of the super expressway:-

https://twitter.com/Dev_Fadnavis/sta...10d1rIaDA&s=19

This news report with link as below says some false images about the Samruddhi Mahamarg are circulating in the media.

https://www.indiatoday.in/fact-check...816-2022-12-08

[vivek95]

The wait is over. India's longest Expressway now open for public in Maharashtra

Phase 1 of Mumbai--Nagpur Super communication Expressway aka Hindu Hrudayasamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg ( HHBTMSM Expressway) now goes live from Shirdi to Nagpur - 520 kms. Honourable PM Modi inaugurated the mega project today at Nagpur.

I think we are already looking at a mere 10-11 hours drive from Mumbai to Nagpur with the opening of this new Expressway. 4 hours from Mumbai to Shirdi by the present route via NH3--Igatpuri--Ghoti--Sinnar and 6 hours from Shirdi to Nagpur by the all new Expressway ! That's a massive improvement in timelines. Can't wait to drive here and indulge Also, can't wait for the completion of Mumbai--Shirdi connection.


Read more here -- https://www.cardekho.com/india-car-n...know-30094.htm

[Rohan265]

Originally Posted by RedTerrano

Sharing some stunning pics, sourced from social media.
Sit back, belt up and enjoy.

At grade median, unprotected bridge walls, no median barrier at some stretches, narrow right side shoulders, and no shoulder rumble strips. Couple all these with a speed limit of 120kph and relatively straight roads, and we have a perfect recipe for a lot of sleep or fatigue-induced crashes, mainly vehicles crossing over to the other side or hitting rigid objects.
It's like the MSRDC didn't learn at all from their mistakes on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Just rinse and repeat.

I request fellow BHPians traveling on this road to be careful of sleep-induced instances.

Originally Posted by BigB

Yours truly played a part in this project... One of the creations..
Attachment 2387615

Glad to know that someone here is part of the project. If you don't mind can you answer some of my queries:

1. What is the average median width? Is it the standard 7-8m used for all expressways or is it wider?
2. Is the median depressed throughout or just has a ditch in between?
3. In the photo attached I noticed that a guardrail protects the wall at the start of the bridge, can you share its runout length towards the traffic?

[anjan_c2007]

The toll rates on this super expressway. It's pay as you drive meaning, the users will be charged only for the distance travelled on this road, depending on the interchanges that it offers ad that each driver selects. They call it "exit toll".



(above image courtesy Mr Proshun Chakraborty, Times of India)



(news clipping from The Hitavada)

In the initial stage there will be only one toll booth at Vayphal. There are 19 corners with interchanges on the Nagpur- Shirdi stretch. Exit toll will have to be paid upto the opted interchange hence. The first stretch opened now from Nagpur to Shirdi will require Rs 900=00 to be paid as toll fee for a car.

https://youtu.be/AcL0OOoZMfo

A video above shared by Mr Ranjit Deshmukh, Times of India, showing the rehearsal yesterday, by the PM's convoy. The route taken upto Freedom Park (a Metro Station), Zero Milestone, Nagpur is shown.

[narayans80]

Anyone travelling the first few weeks, budget realistic travel time of 6-7 hours (not the 5 hours advertised) and be more cautious on your initial runs.

You will have diversions in the initial 20 km section from Shirdi side (Dhotre) and between Malegaon and Shelu Bazaar. These sections are for sure not completed, and you will switch to opposite lane and back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkscOo5QWaA

[OffRoadFun]

Dream come true for auto enthusiasts!

Need to plan a trip!

[rakesh_r]

Finally the expressway has opened up, can’t wait to hit the highway. Where does the highway start from Shirdi?

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by rakesh_r

Where does the highway start from Shirdi?

As per fly through videos, the interchange was supposed to be at a village 10 km from Shirdi, off Shirdi-Malegaon SH.

The drone capture shows direct interchange into the SH, so it might like 8-9 km north of Shirdi towards Kopargaon/Malegaon.

From Pune, getting to Shirdi is a mess and Aurangabad is better. Eventually on expansion, you might take at Alephata.

[Scarlet_Rider]

Looks great! Can't wait to go for a drive on it. Will be an amazing experience!

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

The first drive on this completed stretch of 520 plus kms was by Mr Devendra Fadnavis, Dy Chief Minister and Mr Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister of Maharashtra. The Dy CM steered the Mercedes Benz SUV traversing the stretch and covering it in just over four hours. This was despite the people, officials and party workers welcoming them enroute.

Assuming that they took 4.5 hours for covering 520 kms, means an average speed of 115 kmph! They would surely hit speeds which are well over the set limit which I am assuming to be 120.

[chinkara]

Originally Posted by Scarlet_Rider

Looks great! Can't wait to go for a drive on it. Will be an amazing experience!



Assuming that they took 4.5 hours for covering 520 kms, means an average speed of 115 kmph! They would surely hit speeds which are well over the set limit which I am assuming to be 120.

Not necessarily - no traffic, so uniform 120 kmph is possible

[antz.bin]

The route is still not visible on Google Maps.

Google is using the older route and a small portion of the new expressway and showing 12 hours ETA from Shirdi to Nagpur.

Here: https://goo.gl/maps/fcqvoiqbe7oumU7z8



Added pic here for record since this estimate is going to drop DRASTICALLY!

This really opens up so many new places to potentially visit towards the east! Nashik - Pune will probably soon take the same amount of time as Nashik - Nagpur. Exciting times ahead.

[JoshMachine]

Here's a good visual of how the super expressway will touch major districts along the way and the approximate distance of these major district HQs from the actual route:-



Now, for someone like me who wants to travel from Pune to Nagpur, there seem to be potentially 2 roundabout options:-
1. Additional Pune to Shirdi distance and then onto the expressway, OR
2. Additional Pune to Aurangabad distance and then onto the expressway

I would need to touch the expressway either at Shirdi, covering additional Pune-Shirdi in about 4.5 hours:-



..or touch the expressway at Aurangabad, covering additional Pune-Aurangabad in about 5.5 hours:-

[Meer]

1600 vehicles used the new e-way in the first 2 hours, so finally it has been opened for service. @JoshMachine buddy - thats the question on every Pune-Nagpur traveller's mind, what is the best entry to the Samruddhi Mahamarg - hopefully someone will make a trip soon. I am planning last week of this month, so lets see how it goes.

[Dodge_Viper]

Originally Posted by JoshMachine

Here's a good visual of how the super expressway will touch major districts along the way and the approximate distance of these major district HQs from the actual route:-

But how are the road conditions for Pune-Shirdi and Pune-Aurangabad stretches? Pune-Nashik highway is already messy at junctions at peak times.