August 8, 2025: In a significant boost to regional connectivity, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has confirmed that the Mumbai–Pune Highway will be extended all the way to Bengaluru. The expanded corridor is expected to reduce travel time between Pune and Bengaluru to just five hours upon completion.
The existing Mumbai–Pune Expressway, currently undergoing upgrades, will be integrated with the Atal Tunnel in Mumbai and further stretched southward to connect with the Bengaluru route. This major extension forms part of a broader initiative aimed at strengthening road infrastructure across Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Speaking about the development, Gadkari stated that no formal foundation stone-laying ceremony would be held, as the work is already well underway. “Construction is progressing at a rapid pace,” he noted. The minister also highlighted a range of infrastructure projects currently shaping Pune’s urban landscape. “Infrastructure projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore are underway in Pune alone,” he said, underlining the city’s strategic importance.
Gadkari further recalled his earlier contributions to the region’s development, including efforts to secure land for the Pune airport expansion and facilitate timely progress on the Pune Metro project. The highway extension is expected to bring substantial economic and logistical benefits, easing freight and passenger movement between three major cities—Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru. Once operational, the corridor could become a key route for commercial transport and regional trade, while also cutting travel time for long-distance commuters.
As India pushes forward with an ambitious infrastructure agenda, this project is set to enhance inter-city road networks and lay the foundation for integrated urban and industrial growth across the corridor.
Source: Mathrubhumi.com
