PUNE: The proposed elevated corridor along the Pune–Bengaluru Highway has gained fresh momentum after the Union Road Transport Ministry urged the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to accelerate its approval and tendering process. The 32-kilometre project, stretching from Dehu Road to Narhe, is designed to decongest one of the busiest transport arteries in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, where traffic bottlenecks have long disrupted daily commuting and freight movement.
The elevated expressway has been in the pipeline for nearly four years, but arbitration disputes with a private concessionaire stalled progress. Officials confirmed that steps are being taken to terminate the existing contract amicably, clearing the way for the government to take the project forward without prolonged legal hurdles.Once executed, the corridor is expected to significantly transform intra-city connectivity by separating through-traffic from local vehicular movement. According to experts, the corridor will not only reduce gridlock but also cut vehicular emissions in a city grappling with rising air pollution and mounting carbon load.
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Cleaner mobility solutions, they say, are critical for urban centres like Pune that aspire to be climate-resilient and equitable in the face of rapid growth.The highway stretch in question has witnessed exponential residential and commercial expansion, amplifying congestion and deteriorating air quality. The proposed elevated corridor is seen as a long-term investment in sustainable mobility by offering smoother transit, reducing idling time, and minimising fuel wastage. Road planners also highlight the project’s potential to enhance freight efficiency for industries dependent on the Pune–Satara–Bengaluru logistics route.In recent years, Pune has emerged as a focal point for debates around green mobility, zero-net carbon growth, and future-ready infrastructure. Urban researchers argue that while expressways provide immediate relief, they must be integrated with public transport systems, non-motorised mobility corridors, and last-mile connectivity solutions to ensure inclusivity.
Without these, projects risk favouring only vehicular commuters while neglecting pedestrians, cyclists, and the marginalised.Government sources said that tendering for the project could begin even before final Cabinet approval, signalling urgency in pushing the initiative through. However, questions remain over financing, environmental impact assessments, and whether provisions for equitable access will be incorporated into the design. As Pune struggles with its ever-tightening road grid, the elevated corridor represents both an opportunity and a test. Its success will depend not merely on steel and concrete but on whether the city can blend infrastructure expansion with eco-conscious planning and socially inclusive transport priorities.
