Super Highway: Mumbai-Pune Expressway Set for 10-Lane Upgrade to Tackle Soaring Traffic
Super Highway: Mumbai-Pune Expressway Set for 10-Lane Upgrade to Tackle Soaring Traffic
MSRDC proposes ₹14,900 crore expansion of India’s first expressway to ease congestion and reduce travel time.
In a significant move aimed at easing chronic congestion, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has proposed expanding the Mumbai-Pune Expressway from six to ten lanes. The expressway, which currently sees a weekday traffic load of around 65,000 vehicles, rising to over 1 lakh on weekends is set for a major transformation that could redefine intercity travel in Maharashtra.
Stretching 96 kilometers from Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai to Kiwale near Pune, this access-controlled expressway has been a crucial link between the financial capital and the industrial and educational powerhouse of Pune since its inauguration in 2002. With traffic volumes increasing by 5–6% annually, the need for expansion has become urgent.
The proposed upgrade, estimated at ₹14,900 crore, aims to improve the entire 83 km of the corridor not already covered by the ongoing 13-km “missing link” project in the Khandala Ghat section, which is itself being expanded to 14 lanes.
Currently, the average travel time between Mumbai and Pune is two hours, but during weekends and holidays, it can stretch up to five hours due to heavy traffic. MSRDC claims the new 10-lane layout will eliminate weekend delays and improve road efficiency across the week.
To manage the high costs, authorities are considering a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. If cleared, the project would be one of the largest highway expansions in the country and a potential model for addressing urban transport bottlenecks through infrastructure innovation.
