A major infrastructural undertaking is underway in Maharashtra to transform connectivity in the Vidarbha region. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is implementing three expressway projects, valued at Rs 56,275 crore, forming the ‘Eastern Corridor.’ These projects are planned as extensions of the Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, with the aim of establishing direct connections from border districts to Nagpur and, ultimately, to Mumbai.
The Nagpur-Chandrapur Expressway is a crucial element of this initiative. Spanning 191 kilometers, it will begin at Seldoh in Nagpur district and extend to Navegaon-More in Pombhurna taluka, Chandrapur district, with a 12-kilometer connector to Chandrapur city. This four-lane, access-controlled expressway has a projected cost of Rs 21,702 crore, and the detailed project report (DPR) is currently being finalized.
The Nagpur–Gondia Expressway represents another vital component, covering 162 kilometers. This route includes a 144-kilometer main road, a 12-kilometer Tiroda connector, and a 3-kilometer Gondia bypass, with a total cost of Rs 21,670 crore. Construction will start at Gavsi Manapur village in Nagpur and extend to Sawari village in Gondia district. The state cabinet approved Rs 3,162 crore for this project last month. The expressway will traverse 117 villages across Nagpur, Bhandara, and Gondia districts, requiring approximately 1,604 hectares of land. Upon completion, the travel time between Nagpur and Gondia is expected to decrease significantly, from three hours to just 1.15 hours.
The Bhandara–Gadchiroli Expressway is also part of the network, with a length of 94 kilometers and an estimated cost of Rs 12,903 crore. Approved in December 2023, it will originate at the Savarkhanda interchange on the planned Nagpur-Gondia Expressway, reaching Armori in Gadchiroli district. The project will necessitate the acquisition of 1,013.58 hectares of land, with land acquisition costs amounting to Rs 534 crore. Work orders have been issued for all three packages, facilitating the rapid commencement of construction.
The expressways are slated for completion within 30 months. Once operational, they will provide seamless connectivity from Mumbai or Nagpur to Chandrapur, Gondia, and Gadchiroli, connecting eastern Vidarbha to the mainstream of state development. These initiatives are designed to reduce travel times and freight movement, stimulate economic opportunities, attract investments, and enhance accessibility in the mineral-rich but infrastructure-scarce region. The total investment of Rs 56,275 crore signifies a major infrastructure commitment to Vidarbha, aiming to reduce the development gap between the east and west regions of the state.