The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) first submitted a detailed proposal for nine flyovers along the old Mumbai-Pune highway, the plan remains stuck in bureaucratic limbo.
The ambitious infrastructure intervention, aimed at reducing mounting traffic congestion and road accidents, has failed to elicit any response from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, leaving thousands of daily commuters to face persistent delays and mounting risks. The proposal, originally submitted in 2018, was backed by an expert study that identified nine locations along the heavily burdened highway that required immediate infrastructural redress. These stretches—characterised by sharp bends, hilly gradients, and vehicular bottlenecks—include Somatane Phata, Talegaon-Chakan Road, Karla Phata, and others where daily slowdowns and accidents have become routine. The proposed flyovers, ranging between 300 and 500 metres each, were envisioned not merely as cosmetic enhancements but as functional solutions to address long-standing structural inefficiencies. Despite the clarity and urgency of the plan, valued then at ₹208 crore, it has languished without clearance.
The old highway, though eclipsed by the expressway in prominence, remains a vital artery for local and inter-city connectivity. Its accessibility attracts a high density of vehicles, especially freight and inter-district passenger traffic. Yet, the lack of modern design and growing urban sprawl around Pune and Lonavala has rendered the route both congested and hazardous. The absence of grade separators, coupled with inadequate lane discipline and elevation changes, makes this 16-kilometre stretch from Khopoli to Lonavala particularly accident-prone.
The MSRDC had proposed to execute these flyovers through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to ease the fiscal burden on the state. Apart from easing traffic, the plan was projected to reduce travel time between Mumbai and Pune by as much as 45 minutes—a substantial benefit for both commuters and logistics operators. In a time where efficient mobility plays a crucial role in economic productivity and environmental sustainability, the prolonged delay appears not just as a governance oversight but a lost opportunity for equitable urban mobility.
Meanwhile, the situation on ground worsens. The frequency of accidents continues to rise, local residents report frequent traffic snarls, and emergency services face delays during peak hours. In the absence of structural upgrades, the burden falls back on individual motorists and civic bodies to manage a problem that demands systemic intervention. The silence from the Centre not only adds to the frustration but also questions the prioritisation of smaller, yet significant, infrastructure demands over headline-grabbing mega-projects.
This delay underlines a broader concern in India’s infrastructure push—whether the momentum of development is inclusive or bypasses critical regional issues in favour of centrally aligned, large-scale roadways. If mobility is central to building sustainable, carbon-neutral cities, then such long-stalled proposals must be viewed not just as transport delays but as setbacks in climate-conscious and people-first urban planning.
Unless the Union Ministry moves with urgency, the promise of safer, smoother travel on this vital highway will remain a plan on paper. The city of Pune, with its growing economy and increasing vehicle population, cannot afford another seven years of silence.
Flyover delay on Mumbai Pune route raises safety concerns
