The Maharashtra State Government has granted final approval for the construction of an elevated road and the expansion to six lanes on the critical Talegaon-Chakan-Shikrapur National Highway.
This long-pending project, which serves as a vital artery connecting Pune’s rapidly expanding industrial belt with its rural hinterland, has been notorious for chronic traffic congestion and frequent accidents. The official sanction marks a significant step towards alleviating these challenges, promising a future of enhanced connectivity, improved road safety, and more sustainable regional development for the Pune metropolitan region. The development, confirmed by Dr. Amol Kolhe, Member of Parliament, underscores the responsiveness of state authorities to local concerns. Dr. Kolhe highlighted the growing public unrest over the highway’s delayed progress, emphasizing its crucial role in linking industrial and rural areas. His sustained engagement with key government officials, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Public Works Minister Shivendra Sinhraje Bhosale, and Brijesh Dixit, Managing Director of the Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC), culminated in the project’s administrative approval during a state cabinet meeting held on April 22.
This comprehensive infrastructure upgrade is designed to streamline traffic flow and reduce travel times significantly. The approved plan specifies the construction of a four-lane elevated road from Talegaon to Chakan, strategically bypassing congested urban nodes. Following this, the stretch from Chakan to Shikrapur will be widened into a six-lane ground-level highway. These enhancements are crucial for improving the efficiency of logistics and supply chains for the numerous industrial units in the Chakan-Talegaon-Ranjangaon belt, a key contributor to Maharashtra’s economic output. By facilitating smoother commercial movement, the project indirectly supports a more eco-friendly logistics framework, reducing fuel consumption from idling vehicles and accelerating freight transit. The project, administratively approved for an estimated ₹4,000 crore (excluding GST and minor mineral costs, estimated at ₹3,923.89 crore), will be executed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. This public-private partnership approach leverages private sector efficiency in project delivery while ensuring public benefit. A critical component of the early stages will be land acquisition, which the state government has committed to financing through an upfront allocation. Dr. Kolhe has promptly appealed to state authorities to expedite this process and commence the tendering without delay, reflecting the urgency of the regional development.
Beyond the immediate economic benefits, the upgraded highway holds significant implications for social equity and sustainable urbanisation. Improved road safety, a direct outcome of wider lanes and dedicated elevated sections, will benefit all commuters, including daily wage earners, professionals, and transporters, regardless of gender. Reduced commute times will provide equitable access to employment hubs in the industrial areas, enhancing the quality of life for thousands who traverse this corridor daily. This investment in resilient and efficient infrastructure is paramount for fostering sustainable cities that are well-connected, economically vibrant, and accessible to all citizens.
Dr. Kolhe has also urged the government to fast-track approvals for other pending highway projects in the region, specifically the Shirur and Hadapsar to Urulikanchan stretches. Such comprehensive infrastructure development is essential for managing the rapid expansion of Pune’s urban footprint and integrating its diverse socio-economic landscape. The Talegaon-Chakan-Shikrapur highway expansion stands as a testament to the state’s strategic vision for robust connectivity, critical for enabling both continued industrial growth and a high quality of life within an increasingly integrated regional economy.
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