The proposed third expressway between Pune and Mumbai continues to face delays, with incomplete land acquisition and pending environmental approvals holding up construction of the first 30-km Pagote-Chowk section.
According to a Loksatta report, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has extended the tender deadline more than 15 times. The bids are now expected to be opened on October 1, although construction cannot begin until key project-readiness conditions are fulfilled.
The proposed corridor is planned as an extension of the Pune-Bengaluru Expressway towards Mumbai and is intended to provide a third high-speed road connection between the two cities. The broader alignment will run from Atal Setu through Chowk and Shivare in Pune, covering approximately 130 km.
The project has been divided into two packages. The first will connect Pagote and Chowk over around 30 km, while the second will extend from Chowk to Shivare for nearly 100 km.
The expressway is being planned to meet anticipated future traffic demand as Mumbai Metropolitan Region expands and new urban centres emerge. Authorities expect increasing development and vehicle movement between Mumbai and Pune to place additional pressure on the two existing road links.
However, the project’s procurement process has moved ahead of actual site readiness. The initial tender for Pagote-Chowk was issued in 2024 after the alignment was finalised, but it was cancelled in 2025 following repeated extensions. A fresh tender was floated in August 2025 and has since undergone several deadline extensions.
NHAI regional manager Anshumali Shrivastava confirmed that the tender had been extended again. According to the report, he said 90% of the required land must be acquired and all environmental approvals secured before construction can commence.
Land acquisition is currently underway, while required permissions remain pending. Officials have indicated that the acquisition process is expected to be completed soon, but the report does not provide a current acquisition percentage or a confirmed construction-start date.
The delay highlights the gap between planning a major infrastructure corridor and making it ready for execution. Even after bids are opened, construction will depend on completion of land acquisition, statutory approvals, contract award and mobilisation.
The proposed expressway is expected to strengthen connectivity between Mumbai and Pune and support emerging development areas. However, the next major milestones will be completion of the required land acquisition and environmental clearances, rather than the tender opening alone.
Source: Urban Acres
