December 3, 2025: The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has put forward a major proposal to the state government to upgrade the Mumbai–Pune Expressway into a 10-lane corridor by 2029–30. The revised expansion plan, costing Rs 16,000 crore, marks a substantial shift from the earlier eight-lane design. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) was presented last week, and MSRDC is pushing for approval before March 31 so that tendering can begin within the current financial year.
Joint Managing Director Rajesh Patil highlighted the urgency of widening the expressway, noting that the corridor, built in 2002, now carries close to one lakh vehicles every day. With annual traffic increasing by 5–6%, he said expansion is critical to meeting future demand. Once the cabinet infrastructure committee, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, grants approval, the tender process will be launched immediately.
The project is expected to take three years to complete and requires minimal land acquisition—around 85 hectares near tunnel stretches—estimated to cost Rs 200 crore. MSRDC plans to fund the project using internal resources along with an annuity model. Officials also indicated that the widening may necessitate an extension of the current toll contract, which runs until 2045.
The proposed upgrade comes even as work continues on the 13-km Missing Link in the Khandala Ghat section, a key project scheduled for completion in March 2026. Many commuters have welcomed the move, calling the traffic situation on the expressway “unbearable” and urging the government to ensure the widening is carried out quickly, preferably in phases, to avoid excessive disruption.
Source: Pune Mirror
