The tender for the first phase of the proposed third Mumbai-Pune expressway has been extended again because land acquisition and environmental clearances for the project remain incomplete, delaying the start of construction, according to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
The 30-kilometre Pagote-Chowk section is part of a planned 130-kilometre expressway that will connect Atal Setu and Chowk with Shivare near Pune. The wider project is intended to extend the Pune-Bengaluru Expressway towards Mumbai and is being developed in two phases. The second phase will run for approximately 100 kilometres from Chowk to Shivare.
The NHAI had first invited bids for the Pagote-Chowk section in 2024 after finalising the project design. The tender was extended several times before being cancelled in 2025. A fresh tender was issued in August 2025, but its deadline has also been extended more than 15 times, the report said. The tender is now expected to open on October 1, although another extension remains possible.
NHAI regional manager Anshumali Shrivastava confirmed that the tender deadline had been extended again. He said work could not begin under NHAI rules until 90% of the required land had been acquired and all environmental permissions had been received.
Officials associated with NHAI said the land acquisition process was under way and would be completed soon. However, the authority has not yet started construction on the Pagote-Chowk section, and the outstanding land and environmental clearances continue to affect the tender process.
The proposed expressway is being planned as part of a broader expansion of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and surrounding growth areas. The project has also been linked to expectations of higher traffic between Mumbai and Pune as new development hubs and expansion areas emerge around the region.
The existing Mumbai-Pune road connections include the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the older highway route. NHAI has proposed the third expressway amid expectations that both existing corridors could face rising traffic demand in the future. The new route is planned to provide an additional high-speed connection between the Mumbai and Pune regions.
The immediate milestone is the scheduled opening of the Pagote-Chowk tender on October 1. Whether the bid is opened on that date or receives another extension will determine when the first phase can move towards construction.
