45-Minute Journey Cut to Just 7 Minutes: Khambatki Ghat New Tunnel to Open in June, Major Relief for Pune–Satara Commuters
45-Minute Journey Cut to Just 7 Minutes: Khambatki Ghat New Tunnel to Open in June, Major Relief for Pune–Satara Commuters
The long-awaited project on the Pune–Satara highway is expected to ease congestion, improve safety, and significantly reduce travel time through the accident-prone ghat section.
The new tunnel project at Khambatki Ghat on the Pune–Satara highway is set to open for traffic from June, promising faster, safer, and smoother travel for thousands of daily commuters. The project, designed to bypass the steep and winding ghat section, is nearing completion after years of delays.
The Khambatki Ghat stretch has long been considered one of the most challenging and accident-prone sections on the Pune–Satara route due to sharp turns, steep climbs, frequent congestion, and poor visibility during monsoons and at night. Vehicles currently take nearly 45 minutes to cross the ghat during peak hours. With the new tunnel and bypass in place, the same journey is expected to be completed in just seven minutes.
The project includes a 1.2-kilometre-long tunnel, a viaduct, and two underpasses built specifically to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow. Once operational, motorists travelling between Pune and Satara will no longer need to navigate the dangerous ghat road. The new alignment will also allow vehicles to avoid steep ascents, reducing fuel consumption, vehicle wear and tear, and driver fatigue.
According to officials, the project has been planned keeping the next 25 years of traffic growth in mind. The route has the capacity to handle approximately 1.5 lakh vehicles per day, making it a critical infrastructure upgrade for the Pune–Satara corridor. Advanced safety features have been incorporated, including CCTV surveillance, speed monitoring systems, emergency exits, and control rooms to manage traffic and respond quickly to any incidents.
The National Highways Authority of India undertook the project to reduce accidents and congestion on the ghat section. Although construction faced technical challenges and delays over the years, work gained momentum from 2022 onwards. Most of the major construction work is now complete, with only finishing touches and safety checks remaining before the route is opened to the public.
Apart from long-distance travellers, local residents are also expected to benefit from the project. The new service roads and underpasses will make local movement easier and safer, while heavy traffic will be diverted away from residential areas.
Once opened, the Khambatki Ghat tunnel is expected to transform travel on the Pune–Satara highway by improving road safety, saving time, and ensuring a more comfortable driving experience for commuters throughout the year.
