MSRDC Proposes 10-Lane Upgrade For Mumbai-Pune Expressway To Ease Growing Traffic
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The total estimated cost for the entire widening project is Rs 14,260 crore, with construction costs alone around Rs 8,440 crore
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has announced a major upgrade to the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, proposing to expand it into a 10-lane superhighway. The move comes as a long-term solution to tackle increasing congestion on one of India's busiest and most expensive expressways.
'This is an upgrade from our earlier proposal to make it an eight-lane facility. The latest plan will cost around Rs 1,420 crore," said Anilkumar Gaikwad, MSRDC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, on Friday.
Gaikwad told The Times of India that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being finalised and will be submitted to the state government for approval.
The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, India's first and oldest access-controlled expressway, was inaugurated in 2002 and stretches 94.6 km. Built by the MSRDC at an initial cost of about Rs 1.63 lakh crore, the expressway connects Mumbai with Pune — a key educational and industrial hub in Maharashtra.
Currently, the expressway sees around 65,000 vehicles on weekdays and over 1 lakh on weekends. With traffic volume growing by nearly 5–6% each year, MSRDC believes that expanding the corridor is essential to keep pace with demand.
Presently, a trip between the two cities takes about two hours under normal conditions, but weekend congestion often extends travel time by an hour. The proposed expansion is expected to reduce this delay significantly, offering smoother travel even during peak periods.
The total estimated cost for the entire widening project is Rs 14,260 crore, with construction costs alone around Rs 8,440 crore. Interestingly, MSRDC plans to fund the project through toll collections instead of relying on government funds. 'We will bank on toll collection," Gaikwad said, adding that the financing model — either Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) or annuity — will be decided later.
The current toll agreement is valid until 2045, and MSRDC may seek an extension if the expansion is approved. If implemented, the 10-lane upgrade could transform the expressway into a faster and more efficient route, easing pressure on one of India's most vital road links.
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