The Maharashtra government has partnered with Mercedes-Benz India and the NGO SaveLIFE Foundation to launch the ambitious “Zero Fatality Corridor” (ZFC) initiative on the 701-kilometer Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway-officially named the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, to transform the high-speed roadway into a national benchmark for road safety.
In March 2025, Mercedes-Benz India launched the project using its CSR resources to focus on decreasing road accident deaths with the four main strategies of road safety. These areas include engineering, enforcement, emergency care, and education. MSRDC, highway police, and the health government department are some of the important agencies working with the initiative.
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As per the post by Save LIFE Foundation, "SaveLIFE Foundation, in collaboration with Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited (MSRDC) and Mercedes-Benz India (@MercedesBenzInd ), has launched a pioneering road safety project on the 700-km Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, also known as the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg. This high-speed corridor has seen increasing risks due to highway hypnosis — a mental state where drivers, lulled by monotonous road conditions, lose alertness behind the wheel. This project is a CSR initiative by Mercedes-Benz India Pvt Ltd to promote road safety in association with SaveLIFE Foundation. As part of this initiative, the project tackled not only highway hypnosis but also broader issues like driver fatigue, overspeeding, and poor visibility — all contributing to serious road crashes on the expressway."
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As quoted by News 18, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said, "This collaboration not only addresses current safety challenges but also sets a national benchmark. It opens doors to replicate this model on other high-risk corridors across Maharashtra."
Between 2023 and early 2024, the number of fatalities on the expressway fell by 29% from 151 to 107. They have recognized places called “High Fatality Zones” that only occupy 17% of the road but involve 39% of all convincing reasons for accidents.
Recent changes in safety involve installing cameras for speed detection, reflective signs, guidance for lane use, and VASS. Several officers have been trained to deal with such emergencies. In addition, upgraded facilities have been provided at the hospitals in Vaijapur and Jalna, and 90 first responders have been given BTLS training.
Now that the final phase of construction is underway, authorities are sure this approach against fatalities will bring success by 2026. It is evident from the Samruddhi model that making Indian roads safer depends on strategic partnerships with the community and the application of new technology. It is more important to save lives than just to cut back on vehicle emissions.