Two New Tunnels in Pune: Taljai-Pachgaon and Sutardara-Panchvati Tunnels to Reduce City Traffic
Pune, 9th September 2025: In a bid to tackle growing traffic congestion, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has accelerated plans for two new tunnels connecting key parts of the city. The first phase prioritizes the Taljai-Pachgaon and Sutardara-Panchvati tunnels, with preliminary inspections, including soil testing, already completed.
The city’s 1987 development plan initially proposed four tunnels, a plan that continued into the 2017 development framework. The tunnels listed were:
Taljai-Pachgaon (Hingne to Vinkar Sabhagarh, Satara Road)
Rajaram Chowk (Sahakarnagar to Sinhagad Road)
Sutardara-Panchvati
Panchvati to Senapati Bapat Road
The PMC has now moved forward with the Taljai-Pachgaon and Sutardara-Panchvati tunnels, following directives from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to fast-track the projects.
Significant Time Savings
Officials said the Taljai-Pachgaon tunnel will directly link Satara Road and Sinhagad Road. Currently, commuters take 40–50 minutes to navigate 9–10 intersections on this route. Once the tunnel is completed, the distance will shrink to 2.5 kilometers, reducing travel time to just 10 minutes.
The Sutardara-Panchvati tunnel, spanning 1.5 kilometers, will cut travel time between the Kothrud-Sutardara area and Pashan-Panchvati from 40–60 minutes to just 5–10 minutes. Authorities say these tunnels will significantly save time, reduce fuel consumption, and ease traffic congestion across the city.
PMC officials emphasized that the accelerated tunnel projects are part of the city’s long-term urban mobility strategy and will be monitored closely to ensure timely completion.
