In a significant infrastructure development, the Maharashtra government has approved the construction of a 134-km four-lane highway connecting Neral in Raigad district to Shirur in Pune district. The proposed Neral–Shirur corridor is expected to act as an alternative route to the Mumbai–Pune Expressway and help ease rising traffic congestion on one of the state’s busiest road networks.
Announcing the decision on Friday, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar said the project would strengthen regional connectivity and improve access between Mumbai, Pune, Marathwada and Ahilyanagar.
“The proposed Neral–Shirur highway has been approved by the state government,” Pawar said. “It will begin at Neral in Raigad district and connect to Shirur on the Pune–Ahilyanagar highway. It will go through Vandre, Pait and Shiroli before reaching Shirur,” she added.
Officials noted that the project gains importance amid increasing traffic pressure on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, particularly during weekends, holidays and peak travel periods. The new route is expected to provide an alternative corridor for motorists travelling towards various parts of Pune district, thereby reducing the burden on the existing expressway.
The need for an alternate route became evident recently when severe congestion disrupted traffic near the newly inaugurated Missing Link section between Khopoli and Lonavala. Earlier this year, a tanker accident involving inflammable propylene gas near the Adoshi tunnel in Khandala had triggered a massive 33-hour traffic jam, leaving thousands of commuters stranded.
“It is expected to provide a convenient route for vehicles coming from various parts of the state. The project will significantly boost the economic, industrial and transportation development of Raigad, Pune, Marathwada and the Ahilyanagar region,” said a senior public works department official.
Calling the project a “game changer” in a post on X, Pawar said it would improve direct connectivity with Mumbai and JNPT while benefiting industrial hubs such as Khed SEZ, Talegaon, Chakan, Ranjangaon and Supa.
“This ambitious project is expected to create new opportunities for industry, employment and investment,” Pawar said further.
Source: Hindustan Times
