June 07, 2025: The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has unveiled plans to upgrade the Mumbai–Pune Expressway into a 10-lane superhighway, in a bid to address mounting traffic congestion on one of India’s busiest and most vital road corridors.
“This is a step up from the earlier proposal of an eight-lane expansion. The revised plan will cost approximately Rs 1,420 crore,” confirmed Anilkumar Gaikwad, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of MSRDC. He added that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is currently being finalised and will soon be submitted to the Maharashtra state government for approval.
Inaugurated in 2002, the Mumbai–Pune Expressway is India’s first access-controlled motorway, spanning 94.6 kilometres. It was constructed by the MSRDC at an initial cost of around Rs 1.63 lakh crore, and serves as a key transport link between Mumbai and Pune — a major industrial, educational, and cultural centre in Maharashtra.
Currently, the expressway handles an average of 65,000 vehicles daily during weekdays, with volumes surging to over 1 lakh during weekends. With traffic increasing at an annual rate of 5–6%, officials argue that the expansion is essential to accommodate future demand and improve travel efficiency.
If approved, the 10-lane transformation is expected to alleviate bottlenecks and reduce travel time, especially during peak weekends and holiday seasons when commuters frequently face delays. The upgraded corridor would also enhance freight movement and regional connectivity, making it a strategic asset in Maharashtra’s long-term infrastructure roadmap.
However, further details regarding project timelines, toll revisions, and environmental impact assessments are yet to be shared publicly. The proposal now awaits the state government’s nod to move forward with execution.
Source: News 18
