Anupam Kher praises Samruddhi Mahamarg, flags need for food outlets
Synopsis
Anupam Kher's Instagram post about the Samruddhi Mahamarg was part travelogue, part civic nudge. While he celebrated the 701-km expressway as proof that 'India is changing,' his pointed call for more food outlets highlights a real gap in highway amenities — one that could limit the corridor's potential as a long-haul travel route.
Key Takeaways
Anupam Kher praised the Samruddhi Mahamarg after a road trip from Shirdi to Nagpur on 22 June .
He shared a video on Instagram , calling the drive an 'amazing experience' and saying 'India is changing.' Kher flagged a shortage of food outlets along the 701-km expressway as a key gap.
The Hindu Hrudayasamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg connects Mumbai and Nagpur in approximately eight hours .
Kher was last seen directing and acting in 'Tanvi The Great' , featuring Jackie Shroff , Naseeruddin Shah , and others.
Veteran actor Anupam Kher has lauded Maharashtra's Samruddhi Mahamarg expressway following a road trip from Shirdi to Nagpur on 22 June, calling the journey an 'amazing experience' that reflects India's shifting infrastructure landscape. Sharing a video on Instagram, Kher described the drive as a quiet but powerful marker of national progress — while also flagging a practical gap: the shortage of food outlets along the route.
What Kher Said
In his Instagram post, the actor wrote: 'Yesterday, I travelled by road from Shirdi to Nagpur on the Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg. What an amazing experience! The smooth roads, the efficiency, the ease of travel, and the time saved made me feel as if distances in India are shrinking and possibilities are expanding.'
Kher added: 'Progress doesn't always announce itself with great fanfare. Sometimes it is experienced quietly, through a comfortable journey, reaching your destination on time, and realising how much has changed around you. I thoroughly enjoyed the drive. It made me feel hopeful, proud, and excited about what lies ahead. India is changing. And it is wonderful to witness it. Jai Ho! The only thing badly needed is food outlets.'
About the Samruddhi Mahamarg
The Samruddhi Mahamarg, officially named the Hindu Hrudayasamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, is a 701-kilometre six-lane expressway connecting Mumbai and Nagpur. The highway has significantly cut travel time between the two cities to approximately eight hours, making it one of Maharashtra's most ambitious infrastructure projects in recent decades.
Why the Feedback Matters
Kher's call for more food outlets along the expressway echoes a concern raised by several travellers since the highway's opening. A 701-km corridor with limited rest-stop dining options can deter long-haul road trippers, particularly families and elderly passengers. Adequate food and amenity infrastructure is widely regarded as essential to maximising the utility of any major expressway.
Notably, the Samruddhi Mahamarg passes through several districts in Vidarbha and Marathwada — regions that stand to benefit economically from increased road traffic if service infrastructure keeps pace with the highway itself.
Kher's Recent Work
On the professional front, Anupam Kher was last seen in 'Tanvi The Great', which he also directed. The film featured an ensemble cast including Jackie Shroff, Arvind Swami, Boman Irani, Pallavi Joshi, Karan Tacker, Naseeruddin Shah, and Iain Glen.
As debate around expressway amenities grows, Kher's post has added a celebrity voice to a conversation that highway authorities and the Maharashtra government are likely to take note of.
Point of View
But Kher's feedback lands at a real infrastructure blind spot. The Samruddhi Mahamarg is an engineering achievement, yet expressways without adequate rest and dining infrastructure often underperform on actual utilisation — particularly for non-commercial travellers. Maharashtra's highway authorities have an opportunity here: celebrity endorsement combined with a specific, actionable complaint is a rare combination. The question is whether the feedback translates into policy action or simply accumulates likes.
NationPress
22 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Samruddhi Mahamarg that Anupam Kher praised?
The Samruddhi Mahamarg, officially the Hindu Hrudayasamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, is a 701-kilometre six-lane expressway connecting Mumbai and Nagpur. It has reduced travel time between the two cities to approximately eight hours.
What did Anupam Kher say about the Samruddhi Mahamarg?
Kher called the Shirdi-to-Nagpur drive an 'amazing experience,' saying smooth roads and reduced travel time made him feel 'distances in India are shrinking.' He also said the journey made him feel 'hopeful, proud, and excited' about India's progress.
What criticism did Anupam Kher raise about the expressway?
While praising the highway overall, Kher specifically flagged the lack of food outlets along the route, calling them 'badly needed.' He suggested better dining infrastructure would significantly improve the travel experience.
Where did Anupam Kher share his Samruddhi Mahamarg experience?
Kher shared a video and his thoughts on Instagram on 22 June, accompanying it with a written post describing his road trip from Shirdi to Nagpur.
What is Anupam Kher's latest film?
Anupam Kher was last seen in 'Tanvi The Great,' which he also directed. The film starred Jackie Shroff, Arvind Swami, Boman Irani, Pallavi Joshi, Karan Tacker, Naseeruddin Shah, and Iain Glen.
