MSRDC advances plans for 104 km expressway from Igatpuri to Vadhvan Port
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has advanced plans for a proposed 104-kilometre access-controlled greenfield expressway connecting Bharvir near Igatpuri to Vadhvan Port in Palghar district. The proposed route will pass through Tawa village near Charoti, establishing a crucial link between the upcoming deep-sea port and the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg. To move the project forward, the corporation has begun finalizing land acquisition estimates and initiating the process to secure Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances.
According to MSRDC officials, the finalized land acquisition estimates will form the basis of a proposal seeking administrative approval from the Maharashtra state government. Once this administrative approval is secured, the proposal will be forwarded to the respective district collectors to begin the formal process of land measurement and acquisition.
The greenfield corridor is designed to start at Bharvir Khurd near Igatpuri on the Samruddhi Mahamarg and connect to National Highway 48 at Tawa village near Charoti. From Charoti, a separate stretch extending to Vadhvan Port will be developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), ensuring a seamless connection to the upcoming deep-sea port.
Because portions of the proposed alignment fall within coastal regulation zones, MSRDC is also actively pursuing CRZ clearance, which is a key statutory requirement for the project.
Once completed, the new expressway is expected to significantly improve freight movement between central Maharashtra and the west coast. By providing direct access to Vadhvan Port, the route will allow heavy cargo vehicles to bypass Mumbai's congested road network. Officials estimate that the corridor will reduce travel time between Igatpuri and Vadhvan Port to approximately one hour and 15 minutes.
The expressway project is being planned in tandem with the development of Vadhvan Port, which is set to be one of India's largest deep-sea ports. The corridor aims to strengthen logistics connectivity by linking the port directly with the Samruddhi Expressway to facilitate faster cargo movement from the hinterland. Additionally, the state government is exploring the development of a greenfield airport near the port, which could further establish the region as a major logistics and industrial hub.
