Maharashtra Cabinet Approves ₹931 Crore Funding for Bhandara–Gadchiroli Super Highway.

The Maharashtra cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has approved a fund of ₹931.15 crore for the development of the Bhandara–Gadchiroli Access Controlled Super Communication Expressway, a key infrastructure project aimed at boosting connectivity across Vidarbha. The four-lane, 94.241-kilometre expressway will be constructed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and will connect with the Mumbai–Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway, enabling faster movement of goods and people across eastern Maharashtra.

MSRDC officials stated that the expressway’s alignment traverses over 60 villages across five talukas — Kuhi, Bhandara, Pauni, Lakhandur, and Bramhapuri — spanning three districts: Nagpur, Bhandara, and Chandrapur. The project’s design, land acquisition, and related works have received cabinet approval, with officials highlighting that the new route will reduce road distance by approximately 23 km and cut travel time between Gadchiroli, Bhandara, Nagpur, and Mumbai.

The proposed corridor is expected to benefit towns and cities south of Bhandara, east of Bramhapuri, southwest of Armori, and north and east of Gadchiroli, integrating these areas into Maharashtra’s broader expressway network. The project aims to foster regional development, improve logistics, and enhance socio-economic activities in traditionally underconnected parts of Vidarbha.

MSRDC had invited construction bids for the first segment (BG-01) in February 2024, with an estimated cost of ₹1,854.16 crore and a completion timeline of two and a half years. Four bidders participated in the bidding process, which concluded in May.

By advancing this project, the Maharashtra government seeks to expand road infrastructure in neglected regions, ensuring safer and quicker travel. Officials see the expressway as a vital link for agriculture, industry, and tourism, providing direct access to major corridors, easing freight movement, and boosting rural connectivity across the region.