In this article, we will be discussing about India’s longest Greenfield road project, connecting Nagpur and Mumbai. Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg or Mumbai–Nagpur Expressway is being led by the state infrastructure arm Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and it is designed under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model.

Key Features of Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg (Mumbai–Nagpur Expressway):

1. Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg is a 6 lane (with paved and unpaved shoulders on both sides) access-controlled super communication expressway comprising a total width of 120 m (90 m in hilly terrain) with a central median of 22.5 m.
2. Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg will be India’s largest ‘Greenfield’ route alignment including:
   • 6 tunnels
   • 24 interchanges
   • 65 flyovers/viaducts 
   • 400+ vehicular underpasses
   • 300+ pedestrian and cattle underpasses
3. In case of war-like situations, natural disasters or emergencies, Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg has been designed to aid as a runway for airplanes to facilitate fast incident response.
4. Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg will observe international road design & safety standards as well as for traffic surveillance there will be an intelligent highway management system.
5. Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg plans to cut down the travel time between the mumbai and Nagpur to eight hours from the present 16-hours. 
6. Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg is designed for a top speed of 120 km/hr at hilly terrain and 150 km/hr at plain terrain. This makes Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg the fastest road network in the country.
7. Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg is expected to contribute 6% to the national trunk and freight infrastructure.
8. 19 new townships are planned to be developed along the route of Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, development will include skill development centers, state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, educational institutions and IT parks.
9. Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg will pass through 3 wildlife sanctuaries including 44.975 km through the Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary in Thane, 29.15 km through Karanja-Sohol Black Buck Sanctuary in Washim and  29.6 km passage through Katepurna Wildlife Sanctuary in Akola.
10. Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg has been envisioned to ensure zero fatalities and will have free telephone booths at every 5 km intervals as well as CCTVs.  
11. In order to ensure export-ready and quick logistics infrastructure, there will be truck terminals and integrated cold storage facilities in close proximity to industrial clusters, agro-processing zones, machinery & manufacturing units.
12. In Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg for the whole 15 meter width of the concrete slabs on either side of the road, a single layer concrete paver has been utilized.
13. To monitor lane discipline, vehicle’s speeding, or vehicular breakdowns an Integrated Traffic Management System will be deployed along Mumbai–Nagpur Expressway.
14. At every 40–50 km of interval on Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg will have wayside amenities such as food plazas as well as rest areas along with electric charging stations for electric vehicles.
15. Extensive landscaping, bridge beautification, tunnel lighting, digital signage and improved street lighting will be used throughout the length of Mumbai–Nagpur Expressway.
16. 5 bridges at Thane, Buldhana, Nashik, Wardha, and Nagpur are proposed to have a theme-based iconic design.
17. Provisions will be laid down for natural gas pipelines, optical fiber connectivity, and electricity grid along the Mumbai–Nagpur Expressway at industrial townships, to ensure digital readiness and resource availability.
18. Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg aims to become a model of an energy efficient corridor with electric vehicle charging points proposed at prospecting locations and solar plants planned to generate 250MW energy.
19. To construct the expressway, maximum locally available material, fly ash as well as plastic will be used, wherever possible. To ensure water availability, rain water will also be harvested at prospect locations along Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg.
20. In order to offer pilgrim and heritage tourism Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg will connect several tourism circuits including tiger safaris, wildlife resorts, sightseeing destinations, museums, and theme-based retail outlets.