Pune-Bengaluru Highway To Get Three New Underpasses; Major Relief Expected For Punawale, Wakad Commuters
Pune-Bengaluru Highway To Get Three New Underpasses; Major Relief Expected For Punawale, Wakad Commuters
The National Highways Authority of India has approved the construction of three new underpasses on the Pune-Bengaluru Highway to ease traffic congestion in rapidly growing areas such as Punawale, Wakad, Tathawade, Ravet and Kivale.
Thousands of commuters travelling daily on the Pune-Bengaluru Highway are expected to get relief from chronic traffic congestion as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has approved a new infrastructure project worth around ₹70-80 crore.
The project involves the construction of three new underpasses between Punawale and Tathawade on the Mumbai-Pune-Bengaluru Highway (NH-48). The tendering process has already begun, and authorities expect construction work to start soon.
According to officials, the project received approval about two weeks ago, following which the bidding process was initiated. The move comes amid growing traffic pressure on one of the busiest stretches connecting Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
At present, only two underpasses exist on this section of the highway, and they are no longer sufficient to handle the increasing traffic volume. Residents and daily commuters have repeatedly demanded additional crossing points to improve connectivity and reduce bottlenecks.
The new underpasses will be constructed at Punawale, Tathawade and Wakad, benefiting thousands of motorists, including a large number of IT professionals who travel through the corridor every day. Rapid urban development in areas such as Punawale, Wakad, Ravet and Kivale has significantly increased vehicle movement, resulting in frequent congestion on both the highway and service roads.
Officials said the new structures will use a box-type design, which offers several advantages over conventional underpass construction. The method requires less excavation and can be built using pre-cast concrete segments or cast-in-situ concrete.
The box-type construction is expected to reduce construction time, lower costs and minimise traffic disruption during the execution phase.
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari recently reviewed several infrastructure projects during his Pune visit, including developments on the Pune-Bengaluru Highway. Following these discussions, approval was granted for the underpass project.
The project is expected to improve connectivity for residents of Punawale, Tathawade and Wakad, while also benefiting people from nearly 10 to 12 villages around Pimpri-Chinchwad that rely on this highway corridor for daily travel.
