Nine Flyovers Await Centre’s Nod on Old Pune-Mumbai Highway; Pune-Nashik Highway Project Also Stalled

Pune/Mumbai, 11th July 2025: The Maharashtra government is awaiting central approval to construct nine flyovers on the old Pune-Mumbai highway, a long-pending measure aimed at easing persistent traffic congestion on this critical corridor. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde made the disclosure in a written reply to the state legislative council on Thursday, responding to a question raised by MLC Satyajeet Tambe.

Shinde explained that National Highway 48, which connects Pune and Mumbai, falls under the jurisdiction of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), which functions as the concessionaire, has submitted a proposal to the Centre seeking approval for nine strategically located flyovers along the route.

“To manage the current traffic situation and prevent accidents, interim safety measures such as rumble strips, blinkers, and signage have been installed at proposed flyover sites,” Shinde stated.

The state had originally planned to build 16 flyovers, each ranging from 200 to 500 metres in length, at an estimated cost of ₹208 crore. In 2018, MSRDC identified nine accident-prone locations — including Somatane and Limb Phata — where flyovers were deemed urgently necessary due to sharp curves, hilly terrain, and frequent mishaps.

A 16-kilometre stretch between Khopoli and Lonavala has been flagged as particularly hazardous. The flyovers, once completed under a proposed public-private partnership model, are expected to cut travel time between Pune and Mumbai by up to 45 minutes. However, the plan has remained in limbo due to pending clearances from the central government.

“Based on 2021-22 cost estimates, the project was pegged at ₹208 crore. Any further delays will not only push up the budget but also complicate technical execution,” a senior highway planning expert cautioned.
Pune-Nashik Industrial Corridor Faces Setbacks Due to Route Realignment
Meanwhile, another key infrastructure project — the Pune-Nashik industrial highway — continues to face roadblocks. Responding to another query from Tambe, Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Dada Bhuse acknowledged that potential overlaps with the proposed Pune-Nashik high-speed rail corridor were delaying progress.

“We are evaluating whether aligning the highway and railway routes is feasible to reduce land acquisition and minimize the impact on farmers,” Bhuse said during the assembly session. “The changes under consideration involve sensitive national-level planning concerns.”

The Pune-Nashik highway, once completed, is expected to reduce travel time from five hours to just three. However, the project has been stalled since 2015 due to alignment disputes, land acquisition hurdles, farmer protests, and demands for more interchanges to boost regional connectivity.

The proposed route will pass through Rajgurunagar, Chakan, Narayangaon, Alephata, Sangamner, Sinnar, Shirdi, and Niphad, eventually linking to the Surat-Chennai highway.

“We will begin land acquisition only after securing the consent of farmers,” Bhuse assured. He also added that a proposal to build an interchange for Sangamner city is currently under review.

Both projects — the flyovers on NH-48 and the Pune-Nashik industrial corridor — remain crucial to Maharashtra’s infrastructure development but are mired in delays due to bureaucratic, technical, and social hurdles.