Maharashtra has taken a significant step toward reshaping long-distance travel across the state with the in-principle approval for the proposed Kalyan–Latur Expressway, a high-speed corridor expected to reduce the journey between the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Marathwada from nearly eleven hours to just four. The move shifts the long-discussed project into its formal planning stage, signalling the state’s intent to create faster, safer and more resilient mobility links for underserved regions.
Senior officials confirmed that the approval was issued during a review of major transport initiatives, allowing the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation to begin preparing a detailed project proposal before it moves to the cabinet for final clearance. The expressway, stretching approximately 442 kilometres, includes a 400-kilometre direct connection between Kalyan and Latur, followed by an extension towards the Maharashtra–Karnataka border. Officials described the corridor as a crucial driver of economic activity in central Maharashtra, improving access to markets, workplaces, and logistics hubs. Early design discussions show the alignment starting at Kalyan, moving through the ecologically sensitive Malshej Ghat, and continuing toward Ahmednagar, Beed, Manjarsumba and Ambajogai before reaching Latur. One of the most technically challenging elements is the proposed eight-kilometre tunnel under Malshej Ghat—an engineering intervention that officials say is essential to maintaining gradient stability while reducing environmental disturbance in the hills. Experts added that safe, well-regulated tunnelling offers an opportunity to reduce landslide risks and protect biodiversity, a priority for large infrastructure in fragile landscapes.
The corridor is expected to integrate with the upcoming Virar–Alibaug Multi-Modal Corridor, creating smoother connections for both passenger vehicles and freight. Urban mobility specialists said the integration of high-speed highways with multi-modal systems is vital to building equitable transport access across Maharashtra, especially for communities in Marathwada that have long faced connectivity gaps. Officials estimate the provisional cost at ₹35,000 crore, though the figure will be refined during the Detailed Project Report stage. The full planning cycle—covering land acquisition, environment assessments and statutory clearances—is likely to take 12 to 18 months before physical construction begins. Authorities emphasised that careful land management, gender-safe mobility infrastructure and climate-resilient design standards will be essential to maximise long-term benefits.
The expressway forms a key component of the state’s wider programme to build 4,217 kilometres of high-capacity corridors aimed at reducing travel bottlenecks and enabling more sustainable regional development. Industry analysts said the project has the potential to reconfigure mobility patterns between Mumbai and its broader economic hinterland, encouraging decentralised growth and reducing pressure on urban centres. Once completed, the Kalyan–Latur Expressway is expected to create a faster, more predictable and inclusive mobility spine across Maharashtra, improving regional access while supporting environmentally responsible infrastructure development.
Maharashtra Greenlights Kalyan Latur Expressway And Malshej Tunnel For Rapid Four Hour Link
