PM Narendra Modi inaugurates first phase of Nagpur-Mumbai 'Samruddhi Expressway'.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated the first phase of the Nagpur-Mumbai 'Samruddhi Expressway' in Nagpur recently The first phase will connect Nagpur to Shirdi in Ahmednagar district.

A total distance of 520 km has been covered by in the first phase.

The length of the total project, officially named as 'Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg', will be 701 km.

The project is the brainchild of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and was conceptualised when he was the chief minister in 2015. Once completed, the expressway will reduce the travel time from Nagpur to Mumbai to seven hours.

Earlier today, the PM also flagged off the Vande Bharat Express train connecting Nagpur to Bilaspur. The flagging off ceremony took place at the Nagpur railway station.

During the event, PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for redevelopment of Nagpur and Ajni railway stations to be redeveloped at a cost of about Rs. 590 crore and Rs. 360 crore respectively.

The PM also initiated Phase I of the Nagpur Metro rail project on Sunday. He bought a ticket to take a ride on the Metro from Freedom Park to Khapri as well.

ET