Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has proposed an extensive ₹14,900 crore expansion of the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, aiming to widen the corridor from six to ten lanes.
The project, billed as a vital upgrade to accommodate soaring intercity traffic, could redefine mobility between two of Maharashtra’s most economically significant cities.The 96-kilometre expressway, which connects Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai to Kiwale near Pune, currently carries over 65,000 vehicles on weekdays and more than one lakh on weekends. This mounting volume has turned the journey — once hailed as India’s premier expressway experience — into a logistical bottleneck, especially during holiday weekends when travel time stretches from the usual two hours to nearly five.
With traffic volumes rising steadily at 5–6% annually, transport planners within MSRDC have called the situation untenable and flagged an urgent need for intervention. The proposed expansion targets 83 kilometres of the highway that are not part of the ongoing “missing link” redevelopment through the Khandala Ghat. That 13-kilometre segment is already being upgraded to 14 lanes through a series of tunnels and viaducts expected to open by 2026.The new 10-lane plan aims to not only improve traffic flow but also reduce vehicular idling time, thereby cutting down carbon emissions — a key concern for urban and environmental planners. Officials suggest that the increased capacity could allow for more dedicated lanes for electric buses, logistics traffic, and emergency services, making the highway not only faster but safer and potentially greener.
However, the environmental footprint of such a massive expansion cannot be ignored. Experts caution that expanding highways without parallel investment in sustainable transport modes, such as rail-based cargo corridors or EV-only lanes, risks encouraging more car usage — ultimately undercutting any climate gains. The MSRDC will likely need to secure environmental and forest clearances, as some sections could affect hilly terrain and sensitive habitats.The economic rationale remains strong. With Pune evolving into a major IT, manufacturing, and educational hub, and Mumbai retaining its position as India’s commercial capital, the expressway remains a critical economic lifeline. Delays on the corridor have a cascading impact on logistics efficiency, fuel consumption, and workforce productivity. Transporters have long pushed for wider lanes to avoid bottlenecks, especially at toll booths and entry-exit points.
Urban transport analysts believe that if executed with environmental safeguards and multimodal planning, the 10-lane expressway could set a benchmark in sustainable infrastructure. However, they stress the need for the upgrade to be accompanied by digitised toll systems, intelligent traffic monitoring, and seamless last-mile urban connectivity to prevent city-centre gridlocks at either end.
As the MSRDC finalises project details and prepares for land acquisition and funding clearances, commuters and transporters are hopeful that the expanded expressway will finally deliver the promise of speed, safety, and sustainability. What remains to be seen is whether the ambition of scale will be matched with ecological responsibility — a test Maharashtra’s infrastructure future must now pass.
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