Pune: NHAI Finalises DPR for New Eight-Lane Pune–Mumbai Expressway; Travel Time to Drop to 90 Minutes

Pune, 23rd December 2025: In a significant step towards strengthening inter-city connectivity, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has completed the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a proposed eight-lane greenfield expressway between Pune and Mumbai, a project expected to reduce travel time between the two cities to about 90 minutes.

With approvals from both the central and Maharashtra governments already secured, only environmental and local administrative clearances remain, clearing the path for the project to move into the execution phase at an early date.

The new expressway will run parallel to the existing Pune–Mumbai Expressway and is aimed at addressing persistent congestion caused by heavy traffic volumes, particularly freight movement. NHAI officials noted that the current expressway handles approximately 2.5 to 3 lakh vehicles daily, resulting in frequent bottlenecks, slower travel speeds and safety challenges.

To further ease traffic pressure within Pune city, the proposed expressway will be linked to the Pune Ring Road project, being developed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). The ring road is designed to divert through-traffic away from urban areas and provide seamless connectivity to key corridors such as the Pune–Nashik highway, Mumbai–Bengaluru route, and other major state highways.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had earlier announced plans for a high-capacity parallel corridor to cater to the growing traffic demand on the Pune–Mumbai route. The DPR, estimated at a project cost of around ₹15,000 crore, proposes an alignment connecting with the ring road near Bhor, NHAI Project Director Sanjay Kadam said.

“The focus is on creating a modern, high-speed expressway by eliminating sharp curves, separating heavy vehicles, and enhancing overall safety,” Kadam said. “Under normal traffic conditions, commuters will be able to complete the Pune–Mumbai journey in nearly one and a half hours.”

He added that while major governmental approvals are already in place, clearances from environmental authorities and certain local and central agencies are in the final stages. With technical formalities completed, NHAI is expected to invite tenders shortly and aims to complete the project within three years.

Officials believe the new expressway will act as a catalyst for industrial, commercial and economic growth across the Pune–Mumbai corridor. Improved travel time and logistics efficiency are expected to benefit industries, IT hubs and daily commuters, who currently experience delays of three to four hours due to congestion and accidents.

Once operational, the parallel expressway is expected to significantly reduce pressure on the existing route while offering a safer, faster and more reliable travel option for millions of commuters.