The work on the extension of the Vashi creek bridge and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway bypass will begin in September 2018.

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) will build a six-lane bridge along the existing Vashi creek bridge to align with the recently widened 12-lane Sion-Panvel highway.

Apart from this, IL&FS and Afcons will build eight-lane tunnels and bridges, respectively, for the Mumbai-Pune Expressway bypass between Khopoli and the Sinhagad Institute to reduce congestion in the Lonavala ghat section.

The government of Maharashtra has extended the toll period on the Vashi creek bridge till 2036 and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway till 2045 to raise funds.

The 13 km bypass will separate traffic on the expressway and the old Pune highway which shares roads in the Lonavla ghat section and gets stuck in snarls, and reduce travel time between Mumbai and Pune by 25 minutes.