2024-09-02 12:14:15
Mumbai: The drivers passing through the country’s most high-tech highway will have to wait longer to get passenger facilities during their journey. MSRDC is unable to find any company to develop hotels, restaurants, food plazas and other facilities near this 701 km long highway built between Mumbai and Nagpur, while the state government is preparing to open the Samruddhi Mahamarg completely for traffic from September. MSRDC has invited tenders several times so far.
Let us tell you that in January 2024, MSRDC had finalized the name of a company to develop passenger facilities on the Samridhi Mahamarg built between Mumbai and Nagpur, but the matter could not move forward due to non-fulfillment of the tender conditions. MSRDC has again invited tenders for this in August.
Plan to lease land for 60 years
To develop passenger facilities, MSRDC has planned to lease land at various places to the company for 60 years. 4 to 5 hectares of land will be provided on lease to the company at about 16 places to develop facilities. Only land will be provided by the authority, while the company will have to develop facilities there at its own expense. The said company will also have the right to sub-lease the leased land to any other institution.
The lack of passenger facilities is also considered to be one of the reasons behind the frequent accidents on Samruddhi Highway. Due to lack of facilities, drivers are forced to drive continuously for long distances. Due to continuous driving, they are making mistakes like lane cutting and over speeding. At present, traffic has been opened on this highway for a distance of 625 km, while in the final phase, the 76 km route between Igatpuri and Thane is in its final stage.
Why is Samriddhi Mahamarg not acceptable?
Samruddhi Highway has not been fully opened for vehicular traffic till now. At the same time, due to lesser than expected vehicular traffic on the highway, no company is coming forward for the tender process. Due to the large number of road accidents, the quality of road construction has come under scrutiny. Also, the increasing number of accidents on this highway has increased the concern of drivers even more. Companies are not coming forward due to the cost and time taken in creating facilities on Samruddhi Highway.