The ₹15,000 Crore Solution to Mumbai-Pune Traffic

Commuters travelling between Pune and Mumbai could soon benefit from a substantial reduction in travel time, as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has approved the detailed project report for a new high-speed expressway.

The proposed eight-lane, access-controlled corridor, estimated to cost around ₹15,000 crore, is aimed at easing congestion and addressing safety concerns on the existing Mumbai–Pune Expressway, which has reached capacity. Once operational, the new expressway is expected to cut travel time between the two cities to approximately 90 minutes under normal traffic conditions.

The corridor will integrate seamlessly with Mumbai’s Atal Setu and Pune’s upcoming Ring Road, creating a high-capacity transportation network across western Maharashtra. Emphasising the necessity of the project, NHAI Pune Project Director Sanjay Kadam noted that the current expressway has become saturated and that the new route will enable smoother, faster, and safer travel. Construction will commence after final procedural clearances, with NHAI targeting completion within three years.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.