July 12, 2025: A major infrastructure milestone is on the horizon for Maharashtra commuters, as the 13-kilometre connector on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway is slated to open by December this year. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), which is overseeing the project, confirmed that construction is in its final stages.
The new stretch will enable motorists to bypass the heavily congested and accident-prone Lonavala-Khandala ghat section, which has long been a traffic bottleneck. “This vital link will transform the commute into a far safer and more predictable journey,” say officials familiar with the project.
The existing 19-km ghat stretch between Khopoli and Sinhgad Institute in Pune forces drivers to navigate narrow, winding roads. It currently handles an average of 75,000 vehicles daily, spiking to 1.2 lakh on weekends. In 2024 alone, 191 accidents were recorded on the Expressway, highlighting the urgent need for a safer alternative.
The ghat section is especially problematic due to a dramatic reduction in lane width, where six lanes of the Expressway and four lanes of NH-4 converge into just six lanes. The new connector will reroute vehicles entirely, easing congestion and enhancing road safety.
This development is especially crucial as the Navi Mumbai International Airport nears completion, expected to add significant traffic to the corridor. By improving travel time and road safety, the bypass contributes to long-term goals of sustainable urban mobility through reduced fuel consumption and emissions.
Additionally, MSRDC is planning a major expansion of the Mumbai–Pune Expressway from six to ten lanes, with a Rs 14,000 crore proposal awaiting cabinet approval. Together, these interconnected upgrades aim to boost regional connectivity, promote economic activity, and make daily commutes faster and safer across Maharashtra.
Source: Urban Acres
