Commuters between Pune and Mumbai may soon experience a significant reduction in travel time, thanks to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) clearing the detailed project report for a new high-speed expressway.

This proposed eight-lane, access-controlled corridor, with an estimated cost of Rs 15,000 crore, is designed to alleviate the growing pressure on the current Mumbai-Pune Expressway, which has been facing congestion and safety issues. Once completed, the new expressway is expected to reduce the travel time between the cities to just 90 minutes under normal traffic conditions. The route will connect seamlessly with Mumbai’s Atal Setu and Pune’s upcoming Ring Road, forming a high-capacity transport network across western Maharashtra.

Sanjay Kadam, Project Director for NHAI Pune, highlighted the need for this new expressway, stating, “The existing Pune-Mumbai e-way has reached saturation… This new expressway will ensure smoother, faster, and safer travel.” Construction is set to begin once final procedural clearances are obtained, with the NHAI aiming for completion within three years.