The Maharashtra government has formally approved the long-awaited Nagpur–Gondia Expressway, a major infrastructure project aimed at transforming connectivity across eastern Vidarbha. The decision, finalized through a Government Resolution issued on October 3, 2025, grants both administrative and financial sanction for the 162.57-kilometre access-controlled expressway that will connect Nagpur to Gondia via Bhandara district. The project will be executed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and carries an estimated total cost of ₹3,162.18 crore.
According to official documents, the total approved amount includes ₹2,006 crore as the principal project cost and ₹1,156 crore towards interest. To finance the project, MSRDC will take a loan from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), while the state government has assured financial backing to cover any repayment shortfall if project revenues fall below projections. This structure ensures that funding will not delay the expressway’s rollout, which is expected to significantly accelerate infrastructure and industrial activity in the region.
The Nagpur–Gondia Expressway is designed to be an extension of the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, which currently links Mumbai and Nagpur. By extending the network eastward, the new corridor will integrate remote parts of Vidarbha into the state’s growing expressway ecosystem. Officials expect the project to reduce travel time between Nagpur and Gondia, providing safer, faster, and more reliable access for commuters and freight operators. The route will include two connecting segments — a 3.7-km Tiroda link road and a 13.7-km Gondia bypass — to ensure smooth traffic flow and minimize congestion in key junctions.
The Maharashtra cabinet had earlier approved the proposal in its meeting on August 26, 2025. Following the approval, the Public Works Department completed the process of finalizing technical and financial details, paving the way for the government resolution that now gives MSRDC complete authority to begin on-ground activities. These include land acquisition, detailed design, and survey work, which are expected to commence shortly. Once pre-construction formalities are completed, tenders for the main construction phase will be issued.
Officials from the state infrastructure department believe the project will unlock large-scale economic potential across eastern Maharashtra. The expressway is projected to act as a vital economic corridor, connecting industrial and mineral zones in Bhandara and Gondia districts with larger markets via Nagpur. The improved logistics network will help strengthen agricultural supply chains, facilitate movement of mining products, and encourage new industrial investments in areas that have long remained underserved.
In addition to economic benefits, the project aims to enhance regional safety and sustainability. By diverting heavy transport away from smaller, congested roads, the access-controlled design is expected to reduce accidents and travel pollution levels. For local communities, particularly in rural and tribal areas, improved connectivity will mean better access to markets, healthcare, and education — helping bridge regional development gaps.
With the Maharashtra government’s approval now in place and financing tied up, the Nagpur–Gondia Expressway stands as one of the most significant road infrastructure projects planned for eastern Vidarbha. The project reflects the state’s continued push to strengthen road networks under MSRDC’s leadership and its commitment to balanced growth beyond the Mumbai–Pune–Nashik corridor. As groundwork begins in the coming months, the expressway is set to become a key artery of progress, linking the industrial and agricultural heartlands of Maharashtra to the broader expressway grid and contributing to inclusive regional development.
