Maharashtra’s Samruddhi Mahamarg, which is a 701-km highway connecting Nagpur and Mumbai, has made history by becoming India’s first road to produce solar power. This is an exciting step toward clean energy.
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has started generating power through solar projects at Karanja Lad in Washim district and the Mehkar interchange in Buldhana district.
In the first phase, solar projects with a capacity of 9 MW were developed, with power generation already underway, 3 MW at Karanja Lad and 2 MW at Mehkar.
Under an agreement signed in 2022, the electricity produced will be sold to MSEDCL. It is creating a new income stream for MSRDC along with toll collection.
MSRDC’s Joint Managing Director, Manuj Jindal, called it a “major milestone,” noting that similar solar projects are being planned for other highway interchanges. He also mentioned that the solar power generated will earn carbon credits, which can help raise money for future infrastructure projects.
Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Anilkumar Gaikwad is leading the project. Since opening, the expressway has seen over 2.25 crore vehicles, making it an important route for Maharashtra while also supporting India’s renewable energy goals.
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