The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has begun preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the expansion of the old Pune-Mumbai Highway from four lanes to six. The proposed upgrade comes after the Pune-Mumbai Expressway was widened to 10 lanes and is aimed at accommodating rising traffic volumes while improving connectivity between the two cities.
The DPR will determine the project’s final scope, alignment, engineering design and other technical specifications. Officials said the report will also provide detailed traffic studies and financial projections to shape the project’s implementation.
The highway expansion is estimated to cost between Rs 5,000 crore and Rs 6,000 crore. MSRDC plans to recover the investment through toll collections, which could result in an extension of the existing toll concession period by 10 to 15 years beyond its current validity until 2035. The final financial model will be decided after the DPR is completed.
The proposed works are expected to include widening the existing four-lane highway to six lanes, constructing new road links and improving alignments at key locations to ensure smoother traffic movement. Particular attention will be given to the Lonavala and Khandala ghat sections, where alignment modifications may be required to overcome challenging terrain and reduce travel time.
MSRDC has already appointed a consultant to prepare the DPR. A senior superintendent engineer said the exact design, alignment and project scope will be finalised once the report is completed.
The old Pune-Mumbai Highway has significant historical importance. Originally built during the British era, it connected Mumbai with the Deccan Plateau through the Bor Ghat route and later became National Highway 4. Following the opening of the Yashwantrao Chavan Pune-Mumbai Expressway, the road was redesignated as part of National Highway 48 in 2010.
Stretching approximately 150 to 156 km, the highway was initially constructed as a two-lane road before being upgraded to four lanes to cater to increasing traffic demand. MSRDC currently maintains the corridor.
The proposed six-laning project is expected to further strengthen connectivity between Mumbai and Pune, improve traffic flow along one of Maharashtra’s busiest road corridors and support the region’s growing transportation needs.
Source: Construction World
