The Maharashtra state cabinet has cleared the much-anticipated Rs 6,499.22 crore Talegaon–Chakan–Shikrapur highway project.
The greenlighted initiative, covering 53.2 kilometres, aims to upgrade a critical stretch of road infrastructure linking key industrial and urban zones across the Pune district. Once complete, the corridor is expected to act as a logistical spine for manufacturing zones and significantly decongest arterial routes. The project envisions a four-lane elevated road and a parallel four-lane at-grade carriageway between Talegaon and Chakan. Further, a six-lane expansion will connect Chakan to Shikrapur. This multimodal road architecture is designed not only to handle the swelling industrial freight traffic but also to provide urban commuters with a safer, smoother, and more efficient journey.
According to senior officials from the Maharashtra State Industrial Development Corporation (MSIDC), the infrastructure blueprint has been designed to alleviate longstanding transportation bottlenecks in one of India’s fastest-growing industrial corridors. The existing two-lane roadway carries an estimated 40,800 passenger car units (PCUs) daily. The sheer volume of mixed traffic—ranging from container trucks to two-wheelers—has rendered the current alignment inefficient, with peak-hour congestion, safety hazards, and unpredictable travel times. In an official statement, MSIDC representatives confirmed that the project’s Detailed Project Report (DPR) was submitted to the state government earlier this year, laying the foundation for accelerated administrative approvals. The planned corridor will establish a direct and seamless connection between National Highway 48 (linking Mumbai and Pune) and National Highway 753 (extending to Sambhajinagar), offering a critical bypass for commercial and non-commercial vehicles currently forced to pass through Pune’s already burdened urban precincts.
The route will traverse through two talukas—Maval and Khed—where the road conditions have long been considered suboptimal for high-speed or heavy vehicular movement. Sections in Malwadi, Indori Bypass, and Bhandara Dongar are known for their sharp turns, steep gradients, and accident-prone junctions. Similarly, stretches across Mahalunge, Khalumbre, and Shel Pimpalgaon have posed navigational difficulties, especially for long-haul drivers unfamiliar with local terrain. Planners anticipate that by addressing these critical safety concerns and redesigning the alignment, the project will directly contribute to reducing accident rates in the region—an imperative from both public safety and economic continuity standpoints. With the area being a major hub for auto, logistics, and electronics manufacturing, industrial stakeholders have for years demanded modern road infrastructure to keep pace with production growth.
The state government, in this year’s budget speech, had signalled its intention to invest heavily in strategic infrastructure assets across Pune. Among the top-priority corridors earmarked for funding were the Pune–Shirur and Talegaon–Chakan–Shikrapur stretches. Budgetary allocations for the latter have now been formalised, and execution responsibilities will rest with MSIDC in coordination with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). As per government officials, the project will likely be implemented via loan financing or under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. Talks are underway to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the NHAI and the Maharashtra government. Once formalised, an executive committee will be formed to oversee the 30-year concession agreement, during which the MSIDC will collect tolls to fund maintenance and operational expenses.
Experts believe that the Talegaon–Chakan–Shikrapur corridor could become a model for urban-industrial connectivity planning. Its design incorporates climate resilience features, including stormwater drainage and eco-friendly construction materials. Moreover, the project aligns with the broader policy direction of building low-carbon, sustainable transport networks—critical to India’s net-zero emissions commitments. Urban mobility specialists have also highlighted the importance of integrating the new corridor with non-motorised transport and public transit nodes. The feasibility of adding service lanes, pedestrian infrastructure, and last-mile shuttle services is being assessed to make the corridor inclusive and accessible to all users, including informal sector workers and daily wage earners who rely on affordable mobility.
For Pune, a city grappling with explosive urbanisation and vehicular growth, this project is more than a road—it is a promise of equitable urban development. Chakan, in particular, has emerged as one of the most industrialised zones in western India. However, its rapid expansion has not been matched by a proportional upgrade in transport and civic infrastructure. The approved project is expected to correct this mismatch and lay the groundwork for more balanced growth in the region. Officials said that the integration of modern tolling systems and traffic monitoring will enhance operational efficiency and help reduce carbon emissions by cutting idle times and improving fuel usage. In tandem, MSIDC is exploring green landscaping and tree plantation along the corridor to offset ecological impact—a move welcomed by local environmental groups.
Once operational, the highway is expected to significantly reduce logistics costs, attract more industrial investment, and relieve Pune’s urban core from increasing intercity transit pressure. It also opens up new development possibilities for peripheral towns along the route, potentially spurring satellite town planning, affordable housing, and mixed-use urban clusters. With timelines for the tendering and construction phases to be announced soon, residents and industries in the Pune district await a long-overdue overhaul of their critical transport artery. If implemented on schedule and with community participation, the Talegaon–Chakan–Shikrapur corridor could stand as a flagship model for sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready highway infrastructure in India.
Maharashtra Approves Rs 6,499 Crore Highway to Boost Pune Industrial Connectivity
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