‘New Pune’ Near Proposed Purandar Airport On Lines Of Navi Mumbai

Pune, July 20: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has proposed the development of a ‘New Pune’ in Purandar taluka, on the lines of Navi Mumbai, to ease the growing population and traffic burden on Pune city.

Speaking at the foundation stone ceremony for several major infrastructure projects in Pune, Gadkari said the state government should consider a planned urban expansion towards Purandar, particularly in view of the proposed international airport in the region.

“Some cities in the country have reached a stage where population growth must be regulated. No matter how many roads and flyovers are built, traffic congestion will continue to worsen if urban expansion is not planned. This is the right time to develop a ‘New Pune’ in Purandar,” he said.

Modern Three-Level Transport Infrastructure Planned

Gadkari also outlined plans for three major elevated highway projects—Pune-Shirur, Hadapsar-Yavat, and Talegaon-Shikrapur. He said these corridors would use advanced Malaysian engineering technology, increasing the distance between support pillars from the conventional 30 metres to 120 metres, reducing construction costs and improving efficiency.

The proposed corridors will feature a three-tier design, comprising a surface road at the bottom, an elevated highway above it, and a Metro corridor at the top to cater to future transportation needs.

₹50,000 Crore Road Projects to Transform Pune Region

The Union Minister said road infrastructure projects worth nearly ₹50,000 crore will gain momentum in and around Pune over the next year through the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). These projects are expected to reduce traffic congestion, cut travel time, and lower vehicular pollution. He also thanked the Maharashtra government and Chief Minister for extending support to the projects.

Pune to Nagpur Journey in 4.5 Hours

Gadkari revealed that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed Shirur–Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Expressway, estimated at around ₹15,000 crore, is currently under preparation.

Once completed, the expressway is expected to reduce travel time between Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to about two hours, while the journey from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to Nagpur will take around 2.5 hours, enabling commuters to travel from Pune to Nagpur in approximately 4.5 hours.

Other Key Announcements

Gadkari also made several significant announcements regarding upcoming infrastructure projects:

• The second tunnel at Khambatki Ghat on the Pune-Satara highway is expected to be completed within the next two months.
• The DPR for the Nanhe-Ravet Elevated Highway has been prepared, and construction will commence soon.
• A new Pune-Mumbai Expressway is planned, with tenders for the first phase likely to be floated within the next three months.
• Work on the Thane-Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Highway is also expected to begin shortly.
• Responding to Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar’s request regarding the Nashik Phata-Khed Highway, Gadkari said the tender process is ready, but construction will begin only after 100% land acquisition is completed, in line with the Finance Department’s policy.

Gadkari said these projects will significantly strengthen Maharashtra’s transport network while supporting the region’s long-term urban and economic growth.