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One side of Mutha bridge on Mumbai-Bengaluru bypass to open to public by February

The new bridge over the Mutha river on the Mumbai–Bengaluru bypass is set to partially open by February, promising relief from heavy traffic between Warje and Navale Bridge.

The full bridge will be ready by May 2026 as PMC also widens service roads to ease local traffic.

One lane of the new Mutha river bridge near Warje will open by February, offering major relief to Pune’s congested bypass stretch. (Express Photo)

In some relief to citizens travelling via the Mumbai-Bengaluru bypass stretch passing through the city, one side of the new bridge that crosses over the Mutha river connecting Sinhagad road area to Warje is all set to open to the public in the next few months.

The Mumbai-Bengaluru bypass was constructed a few decades ago to prevent vehicles from entering the city’s congested roads. The road from Somatane Phata to Katraj ensured vehicles travelling between Mumbai and Bengaluru did not enter Pune. However, rapid urbanisation and the city’s expansion brought the bypass under the city’s limits, leading to heavy traffic on the bypass road, which many locals use daily to commute.

Over the last few years, heavy traffic and accidents on the bypass from Katraj to Ambegaon and Tathawade prompted a greater demand to expand and improve roads. Traffic used to be heaviest at Chandni Chowk on the bypass and a multi-level flyover smoothened traffic at the location. However, the traffic has now shifted between Warje and Navale Bridge.

The bridge over the Mutha river was initially four lanes, however the development of service roads on either side of the river and the existing bypass road has moved the flow of traffic onto the bridge, which is too narrow. Therefore, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) took up constructing a new bridge over the river, with lanes on either side of the existing bridge.

“One lane of the bridge will be open to the public by February next year and the entire bridge will be inaugurated in May 2026. This will help resolve heavy traffic in Warje,” said NCP(SP) working president Supriya Sule, who reviewed the ongoing work as it falls under the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, which she represents in Parliament.
She said citizens of Pune are fed up with traffic on city roads and civic issues of the city must be prioritised.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to further widen the service roads to the bypass so that small local vehicles can use service roads, thereby decongesting the main highway.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune, a role that reflects his seniority and editorial Authority. He is a highly specialized journalist whose work demonstrates significant Expertise in the critical areas of urban development, governance, and sustainability, often linking policy to its on-the-ground impact across Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Editorial Role: As an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Ajay Jadhav contributes to the editorial direction and maintains high standards of Trustworthiness and quality in his reporting. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on the intersection of infrastructure, politics, and social development, with expertise in: Infrastructure and Civic Issues: Provides in-depth coverage of crucial development and urban governance topics. His work includes reporting on the glaring contrast between planned infrastructure projects (like private helipads) and the lack of basic facilities (schools and hospitals) in politically significant areas, highlighting accountability gaps. Politics and Governance: Consistently reports on political developments, scrutinizing decision-making that affects public life and development initiatives in Maharashtra. Sustainable Development & Environment: Demonstrates a commitment to responsible development by reporting on initiatives that successfully protect the environment while ensuring essential infrastructure development. Investigative and Policy Impact: National Impact: Ajay has written notable research articles on Conservancy staff which achieved a nationwide impact by directly contributing to the framing of policies aimed at improving the working conditions of waste-handling laborers. This demonstrates his capacity for impactful, evidence-based journalism. Additional Interests Personal Engagement: His background as a trekker and sports enthusiast suggests a keen personal interest in the environment and outdoor spaces, which likely informs his detailed and passionate reporting on sustainable development and civic issues. Ajay Jadhav's sustained focus on governance, his track record of high-impact policy-shaping research, and his critical eye for infrastructure gaps establish him as a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis in Pune and Maharashtra. ... Read More

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