The Union government is set to begin work on the first section of a proposed high-speed corridor intended to cut travel time between Mumbai and Bengaluru. The initial phase of the project will involve constructing the Pagote–Chowk stretch in Raigad district at an estimated cost of Rs 5,000 crore.
The announcement was made by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari during a review meeting on highway infrastructure projects held in Pune.
According to the minister, construction of a new expressway connecting Mumbai and Pune will begin soon. This route will be linked to the planned Pune Ring Road, which will serve as a key connection point for the larger corridor extending toward Bengaluru.
Officials said the corridor will originate around two kilometres from the Atal Tunnel and will pass through the vicinity of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) area. The Pagote–Chowk section will later connect with the Pune Ring Road, forming part of the broader expressway network planned between Mumbai and Bengaluru.
For the project, the government has already secured a land corridor measuring 100 metres in width. This right-of-way is expected to support the future development of up to 16 traffic lanes.
The upcoming construction packages will involve building approximately 202 kilometres of highway across Maharashtra and Karnataka as part of the larger expressway initiative.
Once the corridor is completed, travel time between Pune and Bengaluru is expected to reduce to around four hours, while the journey between Mumbai and Bengaluru could take roughly five hours.
The minister also stated that the new route will help redirect heavy freight movement, especially cargo traffic from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, which currently adds pressure on the existing Mumbai–Pune Expressway.
Separately, the government is also preparing a redevelopment plan worth Rs 8,000 crore for the older Mumbai–Pune Highway. The proposal follows observations made by the Supreme Court of India regarding safety issues on the route.
Source: Swarajya
