Pune: Nitin Gadkari Reviews Rs 7,625-Crore Sant Dnyaneshwar Palkhi Marg, Announces New Projects
Pune, 14th May 2026: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday reviewed the ongoing development work on the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg from Pune to Pandharpur via Hadapsar, Dive Ghat, Saswad, Jejuri, Phaltan, Natepute and Velapur.
The road project is being developed to ensure a safer and more comfortable pilgrimage journey for lakhs of warkaris participating in the annual ‘Wari’.
During the visit, Gadkari announced several new infrastructure projects, including a 2-km flyover at Jejuri costing Rs 250 crore, a Rs 97-crore one-time improvement project in Phaltan city, a railway overbridge (ROB) at Nira Road, the 9.5-km Pandharpur bypass, and a flyover at Tondale where both palkhi routes converge.
Notably, Gadkari reduced the number of vehicles in his convoy and travelled with journalists in a bus during the inspection tour.
Addressing a press conference in Phaltan, Gadkari said the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg project, being developed at a cost of Rs 7,625 crore, is nearing completion. Of the six construction packages, four have already been completed, one is in the final stage, and the Dive Ghat-Hadapsar stretch is 65 per cent complete.
He said the Jejuri flyover will help reduce traffic congestion and accidents caused by heavy pilgrim movement, while the Phaltan road-widening project will ease bottlenecks and improve movement during the palkhi procession.
The proposed Pandharpur bypass on National Highway 561A will divert traffic coming from Shirdi, Ahilyanagar and Tembhurni away from the city, reducing congestion and accidents. Once completed, Pandharpur will effectively get a ring road, providing major relief to pilgrims and residents.
The 234-km national highway connects Alandi to Pandharpur and further to Wakheri via Mohol, passing through Pune, Satara and Solapur districts. Separate walking tracks for warkaris, flyovers, underpasses, railway overbridges and modern bridges are also being developed along the route to improve safety and traffic flow.
Officials said trees affected by the road work are being transplanted, while native shade-giving trees are being planted along both sides of the highway. Historical structures, including wells and caves linked to the Wari tradition, are also being preserved as part of the project.
