Building Pune: Elevated e-way from Pune to Sambhajinagar to expedite travel by 2 hrs

Pune-to-Shirur section approved by state, to be built by MSIDC

The project is expected to provide faster travel between Pune and Sambhajinagar, addressing the current high traffic volumes and congestion on the existing highway, which slow down travel. (File)

After reducing travel time between Pune and Mumbai via the expressway, the Maharashtra government has initiated the process to reduce travel time between Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

The government is now building a 53.40-km six-lane elevated highway corridor from Pune city to Shirur, which is part of the proposed six-lane access–controlled Greenfield Expressway. This expressway will connect Pune with Sambhajinagar and further on to Samruddhi Mahamarg. The expressway is also known as the Greenfield Project.

The Pune-to-Shirur section was recently approved by the state government and will be implemented by Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC) at an estimated Rs 5,992 crore, with completion expected in three years.

“The expressway will be developed in two parts: from Pune to Shirur, and then from Shirur to Sambhajinagar. Work on Pune–Shirur section will begin soon,” said an MSIDC official.

The project will reduce travel time between Pune and Sambhajinagar, a highway that is marred by high traffic volume and congestion.

“It will reduce travel time by at least two hours, as it will be elevated and will have limited access points, including one at Ahmednagar,” the official said. Currently it takes about five and a half hours or more to cover the 250 km between Pune and Sambhajinagar.

The proposed highway will pass through Pune, Ahmednagar and Sambhajinagar. The construction of the Pune-Shirur stretch, starting from Wagholi and connecting to the Pune bypass, is expected to reduce traffic congestion in Yerawada, Kharadi, and Wagholi, while also providing connectivity to Haveli, Bhor, and Shirur talukas.

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The entire 225 km elevated highway will have access points at Shirur, Ahmednagar, Nevasa, Devgad, Paithan and Sambhajinagar, and will connect to the Balasaheb Thackeray Samruddhi Expressway.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More

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