The National Highways Authority of India has initiated groundwork for a redesigned Pune Konkan highway corridor, aiming to create a safer and more resilient alternative to the existing Tamhini Ghat stretch. The move comes as traffic volumes rise between Pune and the Raigad coast, exposing structural and safety constraints along the current hill road, particularly during the monsoon.
The proposed Pune Konkan highway upgrade is expected to strengthen connectivity to Dighi Port and industrial clusters around Mangaon, both of which are emerging as logistics and manufacturing nodes. At present, freight and passenger vehicles navigate a steep and winding ghat section that frequently witnesses landslides, congestion and accident risks. According to officials familiar with the planning process, multiple options are being evaluated. One involves carving out a new alignment that bypasses the most vulnerable portions of Tamhini Ghat, potentially via Panshet and onward to Mangaon. Another proposal considers geometric improvements to the existing route, including curve easing and the construction of a tunnel between Dongarwadi and Tamhini to reduce travel distance and enhance safety.
The Pune Konkan highway is strategically significant because the Centre has already designated the Pune–Dighi Port stretch as a national highway. A more reliable alignment would improve freight movement to the port, lowering logistics costs for exporters and industrial units in western Maharashtra. Transport economists argue that smoother road connectivity can directly influence port competitiveness and regional investment flows. Beyond commerce, the corridor also supports tourism traffic to the Konkan coast. However, heavy weekend inflows, combined with narrow carriageways, often create long vehicle queues. During the rainy season, intense rainfall destabilises slopes, triggering road closures and heightening accident risks for heavy goods vehicles.
Infrastructure planners stress that any redesign must incorporate climate-resilient engineering. High rainfall intensity in the Western Ghats requires slope stabilisation, drainage management and ecological safeguards to prevent erosion and biodiversity loss. A tunnel option, while capital-intensive, could reduce exposure to landslide-prone surfaces and shorten travel time. Urban mobility experts note that improving the Pune Konkan highway could rebalance freight movement currently dependent on longer or more congested corridors. Efficient road links to ports are critical for reducing truck idling time, cutting fuel consumption and limiting emissions a key factor in achieving lower-carbon logistics networks.
Preliminary surveys and feasibility assessments are under way, with data collection focused on topography, traffic projections and environmental sensitivity. Funding models and timelines will be shaped by these findings. As Pune’s metropolitan footprint expands and coastal trade gains importance, infrastructure choices along the Pune Konkan highway will influence land use patterns, industrial siting and environmental outcomes across the region. The coming months will determine whether engineering innovation can reconcile economic demand with the ecological fragility of the Western Ghats.
Pune Konkan Highway Link Under Review
