The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has built the first helipad along the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway, located in Igatpuri, officials said Wednesday. MSRDC is constructing six helipads at key locations on the Samruddhi Expressway—Igatpuri, Shirdi, Wardha, Buldhana, Jalna, and Bhiwandi. According to a Union government mandate, every new expressway must feature such facilities at intervals of 100 km to support medical emergencies. The 701-km-long Samruddhi Mahamarg is being equipped with these helipads to ensure rapid response in critical situations, an official said. Earlier this year, MSRDC appointed Apco Infratech Pvt Ltd to develop and operate amenities such as helipads along the expressway. The Igatpuri helipad will serve a section of the highway featuring the country’s widest tunnel and a bridge elevated to the height of a 28-storey building. In emergencies, this helipad will facilitate quicker evacuations. Each helipad, measuring 52 x 52 meters and covering an area of approximately 2,700 square meters, will be located adjacent to the highway and is designed to accommodate all types of helicopters. The Samruddhi Mahamarg, spanning 701 km, is currently operational along a 625 km stretch from Nagpur to Igatpuri. The remaining 76 km section, extending to Amane in Thane, is under construction and is expected to be completed by September, according to MSRDC officials.
