Pune: The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is set to begin work on expanding the Mumbai–Pune Expressway to 10 lanes after the monsoon. To finance the project, officials have proposed raising funds through financial institutions and extending toll collection on the route by 15 years, moving the current 2045 deadline to 2060.While the state govt has granted in-principle approval, the project still awaits clearance from the cabinet infrastructure committee. No specific allocation was made for the expansion in the recent state budget, leading MSRDC to pursue independent financing.“Work is expected to commence post-monsoon and will be executed in phases to ensure traffic remains undisrupted,” said Anil Gaikwad, MSRDC vice-chairman and managing director.If construction begins this year, the project is slated for completion within three years. “By 2029-30, the expansion should be finished, as MSRDC already possesses most of the required land,” Gaikwad added.The 94.6-km expressway, which connects Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai to Kiwale near Pune, was inaugurated in 2002. Now 24 years old, the road is nearing the end of its projected 30-year lifespan.“It is time for a comprehensive upgrade and repair,” Gaikwad noted. “The traffic pressure has become immense, and it is prudent to repair the existing road while simultaneously expanding it.”The expressway currently handles approximately 65,000 vehicles on weekdays and over one lakh on weekends, with traffic volume growing at an annual rate of 5–6%. While the 13-km “missing link” project already includes a 10-lane stretch through the Khandala ghat, this new project will widen the remaining sections of the corridor to create a uniform 10-lane highway.The expansion is estimated to cost 14,260 crore in total. A senior official noted that the 10-laning work alone adds 1,420 crore to the construction costs, bringing that portion to 8,440 crore.Because MSRDC already owns the majority of the land along the route—requiring only small additional pockets near tunnel zones—officials believe the project can bypass the lengthy land acquisition delays that often plague major infrastructure works.The plan has received support from local representatives and commuters alike. MLA Mahesh Landge described the expansion as a “long-pending demand,” noting that current traffic levels have become “unbearable.”Commuter Meenal Kowshik echoed this sentiment: “The congestion is frustrating. The state must expedite the widening and ensure that the work is managed in phases to avoid further bottlenecks during construction.”New truck terminal plannedMSRDC is also exploring the development of a dedicated truck terminal to improve safety and logistics at a 5-acre plot near Taje, close to the Khalapur toll plazaCapacity: Approximately 500 heavy vehiclesAmenities: The terminal will serve as a modern logistics hub, providing rest facilities for drivers and helping to keep heavy traffic off the main carriageway during peak hours
