Mumbai-Pune Expressway Set for Expansion: Cabinet Approval Expected Soon
Super Highway: Mumbai-Pune Expressway Set for 10-Lane Upgrade to Tackle Soaring Traffic
Pune: The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation’s (MSRDC) long-pending proposal to widen the Mumbai-Pune Expressway is expected to receive state cabinet approval within the next two months, officials said on Wednesday.
The plan involves expanding the 94-km expressway from six lanes (three each towards Mumbai and Pune) to eight lanes. The proposal, originally submitted last year, was delayed primarily due to elections. “With all stakeholders’ recommendations in place, we expect the cabinet will clear the project soon,” a senior official said, adding that further delays are unlikely.
To address growing traffic congestion, MSRDC has proposed adding one lane on each side near Madap, Bhatan, and two additional lanes near Kamshet. The expansion will be carried out in two phases and is expected to be completed within three years after receiving approval. The estimated cost of the project, including construction and land acquisition, is approximately ₹5,000 crore.
Currently, the expressway accommodates 60,000-70,000 vehicles daily in each direction, with numbers rising to 90,000 on weekends.
An MSRDC official noted, “The expansion was proposed 21 years after the expressway opened in 2002. Since then, vehicular traffic has increased by 5% annually.”
Frequent travelers have voiced concerns about chaotic traffic and an increase in accidents. , a commuter who regularly commutes between Pune and Mumbai, urged the state to expedite the project, stating, “The current travel experience is stressful due to constant traffic jams.”
Sheetal Joshi, a Pune resident who visits Thane on weekends, echoed similar sentiments. “We’ve been hearing about this proposal for a long time. It’s time the government executes it,” she said, adding that the expansion would offer motorists a faster and more efficient journey.
Last year, the proposal was discussed during the winter assembly session in Nagpur. Since then, MSRDC has been working to finalize the project. Officials are optimistic that Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will prioritize the initiative. Once approved, the first phase of work will receive ₹2,500 crore in funding.
