Pune Nashik Highway Will Not Merge With Rail Route Original Plan Confirmed
The long-awaited Pune Nashik Industrial Expressway is now closer to becoming a reality as the Maharashtra government prepares to send the final proposal for cabinet approval. Once completed, the expressway will reduce the current travel time between Pune and Nashik from five hours to just three, marking a significant improvement in regional connectivity and infrastructure.
The expressway will stretch across one hundred and thirty-three kilometres, linking Pune, Ahilyanagar formerly known as Ahmednagar, and Nashik districts. Estimated at a cost of twenty eight thousand four hundred twenty nine crore rupees, the project is expected to be completed within three years of approval. It will also connect with the Surat Chennai Highway, further enhancing interstate transport and trade logistics.
The expressway will pass through several important talukas in the Pune and Ahilyanagar districts and aims to enhance mobility and freight efficiency in the region. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation has completed the Detailed Project Report and feasibility study. The proposal is currently awaiting final government approval.
There are also ongoing discussions on whether to repurpose land initially reserved for the Pune Nashik Semi High Speed Rail Project, which has faced delays, to expedite expressway construction. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has directed relevant departments to evaluate this possibility.
Economically, the expressway is expected to stimulate industrial development in Pune, Ahilyanagar, and Nashik by enhancing trade routes and generating employment opportunities. Local businesses, especially in transport and manufacturing sectors, stand to benefit significantly from the improved infrastructure.
Ashok Bhalekar, Chief Engineer at the Road Development Authority, confirmed that the state has already issued planning directives and is ready to implement the project once cabinet approval is secured. This expressway is being hailed as a transformative project for Maharashtra, promising to reshape regional mobility and economic development across multiple districts.
