Pune Highway Connectivity Boost: New Rs 2,900-Crore Expressway to Cut Travel Time to Just 10 Minutes
Pune Highway Connectivity Boost: New Rs 2,900-Crore Expressway to Cut Travel Time to Just 10 Minutes
The six-lane greenfield expressway between JNPA Port (Pagote) and Chowk will drastically reduce travel time and ease traffic on the Mumbai-Pune route, benefiting Navi Mumbai, Pune, and Raigad commuters.
Mumbai–Pune travel is about to get even faster and smoother. The Central Government has approved the construction of a six-lane controlled-access greenfield expressway connecting JNPA Port (Pagote) to Chowk, a key junction on the old Mumbai–Pune highway. The project, estimated to cost Rs 2,900 crore, is part of a larger infrastructure plan aimed at enhancing port connectivity, supporting industrial corridors, and easing commuter traffic between Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Pune.
Once completed, the expressway will allow commuters to reach the Mumbai–Pune Highway in just 10 minutes, a significant improvement from the current travel time. The 29.219-kilometre-long corridor will also serve as a vital link for cargo movement from JNPA (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority) and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, boosting logistics efficiency and regional development.
According to the project details, the new expressway will feature two major tunnels (1,900 metres and 1,570 metres in length), six major bridges (ranging between 160 metres and 910 metres), five minor bridges, four flyovers, and two road bridges. Around 175 hectares of land will be acquired for the project, with a construction timeline of 30 months.
The project was approved in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will be implemented on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis, with an overall cost of Rs 4,500.62 crore for the full stretch of development.
Officials said the new expressway will not only decongest the existing Mumbai–Pune Expressway but will also ease the movement of goods and passengers, especially benefiting residents and businesses in Raigad, Panvel, and Navi Mumbai. With several industrial and residential projects planned in the area, the expressway is expected to play a transformative role in the region’s connectivity and economy.
