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For many people in Maharashtra, especially those who often travel between Mumbai and Pune, the expressway is a lifeline. But anyone who's taken this route on a weekend or holiday knows how packed it can get. To make the journey smoother and faster, the Maharashtra government is planning a big upgrade-widening the expressway from six lanes to ten lanes.
The expansion work is likely to begin in 2026 and will cost over Rs 14,000 crore. The goal is to ease traffic jams and help people save time on one of India's busiest highways.
Why This Expansion Is Needed
On average, around 75,000 vehicles use the Mumbai-Pune expressway every day. But on weekends and holidays, this number can shoot up to 1.1-1.2 lakh vehicles. With so many cars on the road, traffic often slows to a crawl. The current lane capacity simply isn't enough anymore.
According to a senior official from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), they are planning to increase the number of lanes from three to five on each side. A detailed plan is already being prepared, and construction is expected to start next year.
This expressway, built in 1999 for around Rs 2,136 crore during the Shiv Sena-BJP government, has long been a major road connecting two of Maharashtra's biggest cities. But over the years, problems like overspeeding and people not following lane rules have led to frequent accidents.
New Features to Cut Travel Time
The MSRDC is also working on a special "missing link" project that could reduce the travel time by nearly 30 minutes. This includes a long tunnel, a cable-stayed bridge, and a viaduct-structures that will help drivers skip one of the most congested and risky parts of the highway.
This particular stretch, where the expressway and NH-4 merge, is known for its steep slopes and landslides during the monsoon. It also causes many vehicle breakdowns. The new route will start at Khopoli and end near Sinhgad Institute in Pune.
What to Expect in the Future
With the Navi Mumbai International Airport expected to open soon, and new road projects like the Pune ring road and Pune-Nashik expressway coming up, even more vehicles will be using the expressway.
The good news? Despite the expansion, drivers will not have to pay any extra tolls. Instead, the toll collection period may just be extended beyond 2045.
This upcoming upgrade promises not only to improve the Mumbai-Pune journey but also to fix long-standing traffic troubles-making road travel safer, faster, and more comfortable for everyone.
