New Mumbai-Pune Expressway Work to Start Soon, Says Gadkari
New Mumbai-Pune Expressway Work to Start Soon, Says Gadkari
Pune/Mumbai, May 16, 2026: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced that work on the new Mumbai-Pune Expressway project will begin shortly, aiming to significantly reduce travel time and ease traffic congestion between Maharashtra’s major cities.
In Pune, Gadkari said the first package of the proposed Pune-Mumbai access-controlled highway is expected to commence within the next three months following land acquisition and planning procedures.
The new expressway will begin near the Atal Setu, before connecting to the proposed Pune Ring Road, according to the proposed plan. Officials believe the project will streamline vehicular movement from Mumbai towards Pune and further onwards to Bengaluru.
The new route is expected to reduce the Mumbai-Pune travel duration by nearly one-and-a-half hours while helping motorists avoid severe traffic congestion on existing highways. Authorities say the project will improve connectivity between Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru, three of the country’s major economic hubs.
Gadkari also shared updates regarding Maharashtra’s proposed “Green Highway” initiative connecting Pune and Nagpur. Once completed, the new corridor is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities to approximately four-and-a-half to five hours.
Under the proposed alignment, the Pune to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar stretch, currently taking several hours, is expected to be covered in nearly two hours through the new green highway. The route will later connect with the Samruddhi Mahamarg, enabling faster travel towards Nagpur.
Highlighting future transport technologies, Gadkari said the government is also focusing on green hydrogen as an alternative fuel source. He stated that pilot projects involving hydrogen-powered buses and trucks have already begun on select routes across the country as part of efforts to promote cleaner and sustainable mobility solutions.
The proposed infrastructure projects are expected to further strengthen Maharashtra’s road network, improve logistics efficiency and provide faster intercity travel for commuters and commercial transport alike.
