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News18
a day ago
- Automotive
- News18
MSRDC Proposes 10-Lane Upgrade For Mumbai-Pune Expressway To Ease Growing Traffic
Last Updated: 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. First Published:
Time of India
a day ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
MSRDC wants to make Mum-Pune E-way 10-lane superhighway
Pune: MSRDC wants to transform the Mumbai-Pune Expressway into a 10-lane superhighway to tide over traffic snarls and cater to the future demands of vehicular movement along the corridor, one of the busiest in the country. "This is an upgrade from our earlier proposal to make the expressway an eight-lane facility. The latest upgrade will cost around Rs1,420 crore. The DPR is being finalised and will be submitted to govt for approval," Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) vice-chairman and managing director Anilkumar Gaikwad told TOI on Friday. Inaugurated in 2002, the expressway is a 94.6-km stretch connecting the bustling metropolis of Mumbai to Pune, Maharashtra's industrial and educational hub. It currently carries an estimated 65,000 vehicles daily during weekdays. The number increases to over 100,000 during weekends. With traffic volume increasing by approximately 5-6% on a year-on-year basis, the MSRDC's proposed expansion is seen as a long-term solution to the congestion. The latest project involves widening of the current infrastructure. While the construction cost is expected to be around Rs8,440 crore, the overall average cost of the project will be Rs 14,260 crore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like เทรด Bitcoin และ Ethereum - ไม่ต้องใช้กระเป๋าเงิน! IC Markets เริ่มต้นตอนนี้ Undo "Instead of seeking funds from govt, we will bank on toll collection," Gaikwad said. The financing model — whether Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) or annuity — is yet to be decided. The current toll collection for the Pune-Mumbai Expressway is valid till 2045. MSRDC would seek an extension if the expressway widening gets approval to make the project self-sustaining. At present, the journey between Mumbai and Pune takes about two hours under normal conditions. However, weekend rush hours and holiday traffic can stretch that drive by an additional hour. According to MSRDC, the proposed expansion could virtually eliminate this extended travel time, offering smoother rides even during peak periods. If approved and executed as envisioned, the expansion could become one of India's most ambitious road infrastructure upgrades — a critical step toward matching the country's rapid growth in vehicle ownership with high-capacity transit corridors, an MSRDC official said. MLA Mahesh Landge has in a social media post recently said the expansion would ensure necessary respite from traffic congestion on the e-way. "This is a long-awaited demand. The expansion is needed considering the heavy traffic along the e-way," he told TOI. People frequently travelling on the e-way are of the view that the state govt should not delay in the expansion work and carry out the project in phases to ensure that there was no traffic congestion. "Frequent traffic snarls are becoming an impediment for travellers. The expansion proposal should be immediately cleared and work should commence," said Manisha Khandekar, a frequent traveller. The expressway — which begins at Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai and ends at Kiwale near Pune — is India's first access-controlled express highway. While work on the 13-km "missing link" project is on, which will facilitate 10 lanes in the Khandala Ghat section, the proposed expansion would cover the remaining 67km of the route. According to MSRDC, land acquisition challenges were expected to be minimal. "MSRDC already holds land adjacent to most parts of the existing expressway. Only limited additional land near tunnels will be needed. These land parcels are near the tunnel zones," said an official involved with the project. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
a day ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
MSRDC wants to transform Pune-Mumbai Expressway into 10-lane ‘superhighway'
Pune: MSRDC wants to transform Pune-Mumbai Expressway into a 10-lane "superhighway" to tide over traffic snarls and cater to the future demands of vehicular movement along the corridor, one of the busiest in the country. "This is an upgrade from our earlier proposal to make the expressway an eight-lane facility. The latest upgrade will cost around Rs1,420 crore. The DPR is being finalised and will be submitted to govt for approval," Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) vice-chairman and managing director Anilkumar Gaikwad told TOI on Friday. Inaugurated in 2002, the expressway is a 94.6-km stretch connecting the bustling metropolis of Mumbai to Pune, Maharashtra's industrial and educational hub. It currently carries an estimated 65,000 vehicles daily during weekdays. The number increases to over 100,000 during weekends. With traffic volume increasing by approximately 5-6% on a year-on-year basis, the MSRDC's proposed expansion is seen as a long-term solution to the congestion. The latest project involves widening of the current infrastructure. While the construction cost is expected to be around Rs8,440 crore, the overall average cost of the project will be Rs 14,260 crore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo "Instead of seeking funds from govt, we will bank on toll collection," Gaikwad said. The financing model — whether Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) or annuity — is yet to be decided. The current toll collection for the Pune-Mumbai Expressway is valid till 2045. MSRDC would seek an extension if the expressway widening gets approval to make the project self-sustaining. At present, the journey between Mumbai and Pune takes about two hours under normal conditions. However, weekend rush hours and holiday traffic can stretch that drive by an additional hour. According to MSRDC, the proposed expansion could virtually eliminate this extended travel time, offering smoother rides even during peak periods. If approved and executed as envisioned, the expansion could become one of India's most ambitious road infrastructure upgrades — a critical step toward matching the country's rapid growth in vehicle ownership with high-capacity transit corridors, an MSRDC official said. MLA Mahesh Landge has in a social media post recently said the expansion would ensure necessary respite from traffic congestion on the e-way. "This is a long-awaited demand. The expansion is needed considering the heavy traffic along the e-way," he told TOI. People frequently travelling on the e-way are of the view that the state govt should not delay in the expansion work and carry out the project in phases to ensure that there was no traffic congestion. "Frequent traffic snarls are becoming an impediment for travellers. The expansion proposal should be immediately cleared and work should commence," said Manisha Khandekar, a frequent traveller. The expressway — which begins at Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai and ends at Kiwale near Pune — is India's first access-controlled express highway. While work on the 13-km "missing link" project is on, which will facilitate 10 lanes in the Khandala Ghat section, the proposed expansion would cover the remaining 67km of the route. According to MSRDC, land acquisition challenges were expected to be minimal. "MSRDC already holds land adjacent to most parts of the existing expressway. Only limited additional land near tunnels will be needed. These land parcels are near the tunnel zones," said an official involved with the project. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Dec date for eway missing link to open
Pune: The missing link project along the express way which is expected to reduce travel time between Pune and Mumbai by atleast 25 minutes may be completed only be end of this year, MSRDC officials told TOI on Friday. MSRDC Vice Chairman Anil Gaikwad told TOI that the missing link project is 95% complete. However, the work of the cable-stayed bridge in the Tiger Valley is still underway. "We do not want to rush this stretch and it has to be constructed properly as it involves highly skilled technical work. We are expecting that this stretch will only be completed by December 2025 considering the challenges," he told TOI. The earlier deadline for the opening of the project was August 2025. The project has two components_the tunnel and the cable stayed bridge. While the tunnel work is over, the bridge work can be taken after rains. Authorities have cited heavy rains and strong winds as the main reasons for the delay and said they do not want to compromise with safety as the work site is in a deep valley with high wind flow and heavy showers in monsoon. The missing link includes a 10.60 km long tunnel which is constructed and the adjoining cable-stayed bridge being built over the Tiger Valley which is incomplete. While the substructure work of the bridge is completed, the work of installing the cables is in progress. The bridge is being constructed at an elevation of over 180 from the ground. Once completed, the missing link is expected to reduce travel time between Pune-Mumbai by at least 25 minutes while the sharp curves on the current ghat section will be minimised reducing the risk of accidents. The traffic congestion in the ghat section is expected to reduce due to this missing link project. The overall cost of the project is estimated to be around Rs 6,695 crore. MSRDC appointed 22 private players to develop and operate wayside amenities along the Samruddhi corridor MSRDC has appointed 22 private players to develop and operate full-fledged wayside amenities along the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi corridor, MSRDC Vice Chairman Anilkumar Gaikwad confirmed. The wayside amenities for motorists such as fuel stations, garages, eateries, public conveniences, and first aid clinics are missing, heightening the risk of accidents along the way. To fill the gap, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has appointed private players to develop these amenities and the full facilities are expected to come up in stages in the next two years. Around 10 acres of land each will be dedicated for these locations. The Samruddhi Mahamarg spans 701 km, which is currently open to traffic. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Safety upgrade for 15 black spots on NH-48, accidents dip
Pune: As many as 15 high-risk crash locations along Old Mumbai-Pune section of National Highway 48 were transformed under Zero Fatality Corridor (ZFC) initiative as part of pre-monsoon safety intervention. Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) officials said that identification and correction of these black spots was expected to drastically reduce accidents along the corridor. Once known for frequent and often fatal crashes, the highway is now being repositioned as a model of evidence-led, multi-agency road safety transformation. "We are not just building roads, we are building safer journeys," said Anilkumar Gaikwad, vice-chairman and managing director, MSRDC. The joint effort was led by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), SaveLIFE Foundation, Maharashtra Highway Police, and Highways Infrastructure Trust, officials told TOI on Tuesday. "This initiative demonstrates the power of collaboration, data, and engineering in saving lives on our highways," Gaikwad said. Through data-driven interventions and collaborative implementation of engineering solutions, we are committed to reducing fatalities and making our roads safer for every user," he told TOI. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 그랜저 신차장기렌트, 2년 타보고 결정하세요 카테일러 더 알아보기 Undo This initiative reflects our ongoing dedication to building not just better roads but safer ones, he added. The project focused on engineering upgrades at 15 crash-prone locations — from Ladkat Petrol Pump near Somatane Toll Plaza to stretches near Mahanagar Gas — addressing key safety risks such as poor visibility, unsafe intersections, high-speed merging, and pedestrian vulnerability. Key intervention points included Wadgaon Phata, Kamshet Ghat section, Shilatane Phata, and Khalapur junction, among others. These sites were treated with a mix of median gap closures, improved signage, speed-calming measures, and pedestrian safety enhancements, such as designated crossing zones and barricading. In addition to civil works, the project deployed speed detection cameras and automatic violation monitoring system to crack down on reckless driving. Maharashtra Highway Police officials reported noticeable improvements in driver behaviour following installation of enforcement technologies and upgraded signage. "The presence of automated systems has not only deterred overspeeding, but enabled real-time tracking of violations," said an official, adding that enforcement became significantly more efficient. Crucially, the project also prioritised institutionalisation of these interventions through capacity-building and establishment of strong operational partnerships between different govt agencies. This approach not only enabled immediate improvements but also laid the groundwork for sustaining and scaling the ZFC model across other high-fatality corridors in India, stated SaveLIFE Foundation. In the old Mumbai Pune highway section of NH48, there was 67% reduction in fatalities from 269 in 2018 to 88 in 2024. The fatality numbers for 2025 are currently being verified. On the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, there was a reduction in fatalities in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. There were 24 fatalities in 2024 as against 6 in 2025. "Buoyed by these results, MSRDC plans to extend ZFC initiative to other high-fatality corridors across Maharashtra," said officials. "We are establishing a scalable, data-driven blueprint for road safety that can be replicated across India." The Zero Fatality Corridor (ZFC) initiative on the Old Mumbai Pune Highway (NH48), implemented by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and Highway Police Maharashtra and SaveLIFE Foundation in partnership with Highways Infrastructure Trust, has demonstrated remarkable success in enhancing road safety outcomes. Initial comparative analysis of crash data revealed a 51% reduction in road crash fatalities between January and March 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, highlighting the efficacy of SaveLIFE Foundation's evidence-driven interventions.
