Maharashtra is preparing a large-scale expansion of the Mumbai–Pune Expressway as traffic on the corridor continues to outgrow its designed capacity. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is finalising a proposal to add four new lanes to the inter-city highway, aiming to reduce congestion and support more reliable long-distance travel between the two urban centres. The planned upgrade, estimated at ₹14,260 crore, is expected to be completed by 2030 if approvals move on schedule.
The expressway, inaugurated in 2002, has long been one of the state’s busiest mobility corridors, carrying between 80,000 and 100,000 vehicles daily and significantly more during weekends. Despite previous measures to improve flow, including the demolition of bottleneck structures and integration with new tunnel systems, the route remains vulnerable to severe delays—especially where it merges with the older Mumbai–Pune Highway. According to officials, a six-lane stretch near Khandala is currently forced to accommodate traffic spilling in from ten lanes, creating chronic congestion. An MSRDC official said the expansion is necessary not only to keep pace with travel demand but also to prepare for the opening of the expressway’s “missing link” in 2026. The 13.3-kilometre connector will bypass the steep and environmentally sensitive ghat sections of Lonavala and Khandala, enabling smoother flow but also adding more vehicles onto the main corridor. “Once the missing link is operational, expressway capacity will need to be substantially higher to manage the redistributed traffic,” the official said.
Urban mobility experts note that improving inter-city road infrastructure is essential but emphasise that widening highways alone cannot guarantee long-term decongestion. They argue for a parallel push towards cleaner public transport options, integrated logistics routes and adoption of low-emission mobility, particularly on corridors linking major economic hubs such as Mumbai and Pune. Strengthening inclusive transport planning, they add, allows infrastructure projects to contribute to broader sustainability goals without reinforcing car-dependence. Funding for the proposed expansion will follow a hybrid model, with the state contributing around 40% of the capital expenditure and the remainder likely borne by the selected concessionaire. Once approved, the concession period and toll collection window will extend beyond the current end date of April 2045. Officials say tendering will begin promptly after the state clears the proposal.
For motorists, the upgrade offers the possibility of more predictable travel, shorter delays and safer infrastructure—especially during peak tourism periods. However, urban planners suggest complementing the expansion with policies encouraging public transport connections to reduce emissions and promote equitable mobility. As one transport consultant observed, “Expressway upgrades are a step forward, but resilient and low-carbon mobility requires a wider shift in how cities plan inter-regional movement.”
Mumbai Pune Expressway Expansion Planned With Four New Lanes To Ease Congestion
