Chakan, Moshi Traffic Jams Will End Forever; Tender to Open for 16-Lane Elevated Corridor on 25 September: Nitin Gadkari

Union Transport Minister announces ₹7,827-crore revamp of Pune–Nashik Highway with 16-lane elevated corridor

Pune is set to witness a major transformation in its highway infrastructure, with Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announcing that traffic jams in Chakan and Moshi will soon be a thing of the past.

The 30-kilometre stretch of the Pune–Nashik Highway, from Nashik Phata to Rajgurunagar (Khed), currently takes 90 to 120 minutes to cover. Once the new 16-lane project is completed, the same distance will take just 20 minutes.

The Project

The ambitious plan involves building a massive 16-lane highway, eight lanes at ground level and eight lanes as an elevated corridor at an estimated cost of ₹7,827 crore. The tender for the project will be opened on September 25.

To make way for the development, about 14 hectares of land will be acquired, of which nearly 10 hectares fall under the PMRDA’s jurisdiction. The affected area spans seven villages: Nanekarwadi, Waki Khurd, Waki Budruk, Chimbli, Kuruli, Medankarwadi, and parts of Chakan. Around 150 landowners will be impacted.

Villagers’ Concerns

Villagers from Khed, Ambegaon, and Junnar talukas, led by Pune–Nashik National Highway Coordinator Dilip Medge, recently met Gadkari in Pune. They raised concerns about heavy congestion and frequent accidents at Peth, Tambdemala, Manchar, Ekalhane–Kalamb (Ambegaon), Narayangaon, and Alephata (Junnar).

They urged the government to immediately approve flyovers or underground routes at accident-prone spots. Medge also demanded that the under-construction flyover between Narayangaon and Khodad Chowk be expedited, citing delays.

Government’s Response

National Highways Project Director Sanjay Kadam assured that multiple safety measures are already underway. Based on recommendations from former Cooperation Minister Dilip Walse Patil, flyovers at Eklahare and Tambdemala have been approved, with tendering in progress. Work on the Narayangaon–Khodad Chowk flyover will also be accelerated.

Kadam confirmed that the land acquisition process for the new 30-km, 16-lane stretch is moving forward with state government support.

Impact

Once operational, the upgraded highway will not only cut travel time drastically but also ease the daily congestion caused by industrial traffic on the Pune–Chakan–MIDC stretch. It is expected to significantly reduce accidents and boost connectivity between Pune and Nashik, two of Maharashtra’s key economic hubs.