MUMBAI, Aug. 26 -- The Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg - better known as the Samruddhi Expressway - is set to become more than a high-speed link between Mumbai and Nagpur. Soon, it will also serve as a corridor for renewable energy. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has drawn up plans to install hybrid power generation equipment-combining solar panels with wind turbines-along the 701-km stretch of the expressway. To drive this project, MSRDC has incorporated a special purpose vehicle named Mahasamruddhi Renewable Energy Limited. The project aims to generate significant solar power, initially planned for 150-200 MW, to reduce electricity costs for the expressway's lighting, tunnels, and interchanges. The initiative also supports the goal of making Samruddhi Mahamarg an energy-efficient "green corridor" and contributes to the state's reduced carbon footprint. Officials say the initiative takes advantage of the expressway's unique geography as when travelling from Nagpur to Mumbai, the left side of the Samruddhi Expressway always faces south. South-facing is important for solar panels because it maximises sun exposure throughout the day, leading to the highest electricity production....