Maharashtra: Samruddhi Mahamarg Traffic Halts Continue Till Feb 18, MSRDC Issues Advisory
Mumbai, 10th February 2026: Motorists on the Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg will continue to face brief traffic stoppages over the coming days as the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) carries out installation work for a new Highway Traffic Management System (HTMS).
The phased traffic blocks, which began on February 9, will remain in effect until February 18, 2026. These controlled halts are being imposed to allow the safe lifting and fixing of massive overhead steel gantries across the expressway.
The ongoing work is focused on a 65-kilometre stretch between km 300.400 and km 365.800. Affected areas include parts of Buldhana and Jalna districts. In Buldhana, commuters near Lonar, Sindkhed Raja and Deulgaon Raja are likely to experience brief delays. In Jalna, select sections of Jalna taluka fall under the current work zone.
MSRDC officials said the expressway is not being closed fully. Instead, traffic is being stopped in intervals of around 45 to 60 minutes to ensure the safety of workers and road users during gantry installation.
As per the tentative daily plan, the Mumbai-bound lane is being halted between 12 noon and 1 pm, while the Nagpur-bound lane is seeing stoppages between 3 pm and 4 pm. On certain days, both directions may be paused briefly depending on the complexity of the work.
The gantries form a key part of the upcoming Highway Traffic Management System, which will turn the Samruddhi Mahamarg into a smart highway. Once operational, the system will support 24/7 CCTV surveillance, automatic speed detection, real-time digital message boards and number plate recognition technology.
MSRDC has advised commuters to add at least one hour of buffer time if travelling through Buldhana or Jalna over the next week. Drivers have also been urged to avoid entering the affected zones between 12 pm and 4 pm where possible.
Traffic police and MSRDC teams are deployed at block points to regulate movement. While the Samruddhi Mahamarg remains the fastest Mumbai–Nagpur route, local travellers may use old highway links if they encounter delays near Lonar or Jalna.
The infrastructure upgrade is part of a wider road safety push following recent accidents on the 701-kilometre expressway.
