Two Fatalities Daily: NHAI Takes Steps to Make Solapur-Pune Highway Safer

Solapur, 16th January 2025: The Solapur-Pune National Highway, which was completed between 2010 and 2014, has seen a significant rise in traffic over the past decade. Initially, the highway saw 30,000 vehicles daily, measured in passenger car units (PCUs). By the end of December 2024, this figure had climbed to 42,000, bringing with it a concerning increase in road accidents.
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has indicated that if the daily traffic reaches 60,000 vehicles, the highway will be expanded to six lanes. This expansion is expected to take place within the next two to three years, addressing growing traffic congestion. However, as the volume of vehicles increases, the frequency of accidents has also surged, prompting the need for safety measures.
On average, two people die in road accidents daily within Solapur district, with the number of accidental deaths rising in tandem with traffic. To address this issue, NHAI is focusing on constructing new flyovers at accident-prone locations, particularly where villagers are forced to travel in the opposite direction to access their homes and farms.
One such location is near Indira Kanya Prashala in Mohol city, where accidents had been frequent. A flyover has already been completed there, and work is underway near Arjunsond, which will eventually extend to the Lamboti (Chandannagar) bridge. The cost of this flyover project is estimated at ₹19 crore, with completion expected within a year.
Further infrastructure improvements are also on the horizon. The flyover near Angar Pati is expected to cost ₹45 crore, with work scheduled to be finished by December 2025. Meanwhile, the proposed flyover near Sawaleshwar will cost ₹30 crore, and its construction will begin once the final approval is obtained.
Rakesh Jawade, Project Director at NHAI, Solapur, emphasized the role of the District Collector in facilitating these projects. He noted that flyovers at both Angar and Arjunsond are crucial to reducing accidents and improving road safety for villagers. These projects are set to include service roads and drainage systems, improving overall accessibility and safety. While the six-lane expansion of the highway will take a few more years, it remains a critical future step due to rising traffic congestion.