Pune Set To Become ‘City of Tunnels’: Mega Plan For 56 Underground Passages To Ease Traffic Congestion
Pune Set To Become ‘City of Tunnels’: Mega Plan For 56 Underground Passages To Ease Traffic Congestion
Pune, January 14, 2026: Pune, long known as the ‘Oxford of the East’, may soon earn another identity—as the ‘City of Tunnels’. In a major push to tackle the city’s chronic traffic congestion, the Maharashtra government has unveiled an ambitious plan to construct 56 underground tunnels forming a vast sub-surface transport network across the city.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar announced the project, stating that a 54-kilometre-long underground tunnel system will be developed, with the key stretch running from Yerwada to Katraj. The project aims to enable smoother and faster travel beneath the city, significantly reducing pressure on surface roads.
Criticising the unplanned execution of some flyover projects in the past, Pawar said Pune’s future traffic strategy will focus on a combination of underground tunnels and elevated corridors. He pointed out that traffic on 32 major city roads currently exceeds their carrying capacity by nearly 1.5 to 2.5 times, making large-scale decongestion measures essential.
To address this, the government has proposed the construction of 23 new flyovers along with 56 tunnels, with the entire project estimated to cost around ₹32,000 crore. Officials believe this integrated infrastructure push could prove to be a game-changer for Pune’s mobility.
The tunnel network will not be limited to the Katraj area alone. It will connect major high-traffic zones such as Aundh, Sangamwadi, Kothrud and Sinhagad Road, ensuring seamless north-south connectivity across the city. Once the proposed ring road is completed and linked to the tunnel system, nearly 40 per cent of Pune’s traffic congestion is expected to be reduced.
According to the government, the project’s preliminary report has already been prepared and has received in-principle clearance from the Chief Minister’s Office. The tunnels will be directly connected to the ring road, allowing highway-bound vehicles to bypass the city altogether, thereby easing internal traffic flow.
The long-standing bottleneck at the Katraj Ghat is also expected to see significant relief, with commuters able to travel directly through tunnels instead of negotiating the congested stretch. Officials said the ring road and tunnel network together will form the backbone of Pune’s future transport system.
Key Features of Pune’s New Traffic Blueprint:
- 56 underground tunnels spanning approximately 54 km, connecting key north-south corridors
- 23 new flyovers, with work on 8 already underway
- Decongestion of 32 major roads currently operating far beyond capacity
- Three-layer traffic model: road at ground level, elevated corridor above, and metro network on top
The state government believes the project will fundamentally reshape Pune’s urban mobility and provide long-term relief from traffic congestion.
