Expressway Push: Maharashtra Approves ₹931 Crore for Bhandara Gadchiroli to Boost Vidarbha Connectivity

The Maharashtra cabinet has approved a ₹931 crore allocation for the Bhandara Gadchiroli Access Controlled Super Communication Expressway, a project aimed at transforming connectivity in the eastern Vidarbha region. The expressway will be executed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation.

Stretching 94 kilometres, the new corridor will link Bhandara to Gadchiroli while also connecting with the Mumbai Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway. The route will pass through more than sixty villages across five talukas in the districts of Nagpur, Bhandara and Chandrapur. Officials say the project will shorten travel distance by about 23 kilometres, offering significant time savings for both passenger and freight movement.

The state government has positioned the project as a driver of socio economic development in Vidarbha, one of Maharashtra’s less industrialised regions. Improved road access is expected to benefit agriculture, small scale industries, logistics and tourism, while also providing safer and faster travel options for local communities.

Tendering for the project has already begun, with bids for the first stretch opened earlier this year at an estimated cost of ₹1,854 crore. Construction is scheduled to be completed within two and a half years once contracts are awarded.

The expressway is designed as a greenfield, access controlled corridor but with close integration into existing road networks to maximise its impact. Authorities believe the investment will reduce regional disparities by opening up markets, improving access to services and attracting new investment into underdeveloped areas.

For Maharashtra, the move highlights a strategic push to expand infrastructure development beyond its major urban centres and support inclusive growth through targeted connectivity projects.