On the Maharashtra state longest access controlled highway Samruddhi Mahamarg Intelligent Transport System (ITS) installation work is under progress. The ITS will have capability to detect 17 types of Traffic rule violations to include overspeeding, use of mobile while driving, unauthorised parking on expressway/ tunnels, overloading, seat belt and lane discipline related, etc.
According to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), which is the project implementing authority for the ITMS the laying of Optical Fibre and electrical cables is in progress. And More than 500 km of cable duct has been installed till date.
The objective of the project is to ensure safety and security of commuters, render timely help in case of incidents/ emergencies, enforce traffic rules and ensure efficient toll collection activity with minimum human intervention.
The implementation of the ITS project on Samruddhi Mahamarg, Work Order was awarded to the bidder, consortium of NCC Ltd. and Amnex Infotechnologies Pvt. Ltd in July 2024. Similarly, for project supervision, Joint Venture of Nippon Koei Co. Ltd. and Nippon Koei India Pvt. Ltd., were appointed
The ITS managed and monitored from the Traffic Management Centres located along the Expressway one at Amne in Thane having Integrated Traffic Management Centre, Regional Traffic Management Centres at seven locations (at every 100 km) and Tunnel Traffic Management Centres at two locations.
Meanwhile, the final 76 kilometres of the Samruddhi Mahamarg, between Igatpuri and Amane, in Thane is set for opening very soon. As per sources the plan is to open this stretch on May 1st Maharashtra Day and most likely Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to do the fin inaugural function. The opening of this stretch is under progress since work on the connecting spur on the under construction Mumbai-Vadodara Expressway is also in final stage of completion ensuring swift traffic dispersal.
The 76 km stretch will bypass the treacherous Kasara Ghat, cutting the travel time between Amane and Igatpuri from over 90 minutes to just 40 minutes.
Currently 625 kilometres of the Samruddhi Mahamarg is already open in different phases to traffic between Nagpur to Igatpuri Town. The 701 kilometres complete corridor is expected to cut travel time between Nagpur and Thane from a gruelling 16 hours to just eight hours once fully operational as the final stretch is opened to traffic.
