NHAI Invites Bids For Second Pune-Mumbai Expressway; Travel Time May Drop To 90 Minutes

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched the process for constructing a second Pune-Mumbai Expressway parallel to the current corridor. The proposed project is expected to cut travel time between the two cities to about 90 minutes. Read on to know more.

Mumbai-Pune New Expressway To Cut Time To 90 Minutes

According to a Hindustan Times report, NHAI has invited bids to develop the detailed project report (DPR) and conduct a viability study for the proposed ₹15,000-crore project. The planned 130-km access-controlled expressway will start at Chowk in Raigad district, connect to the JNPT (Pagote)-Chowk highway, then continue to Shivre village near Bhor, where it will link to the Pune Ring Road. The corridor will also offer direct connectivity between Pune and the Atal Setu, improving connectivity to Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port.

The project aims to tackle growing traffic congestion, frequent accidents and rising vehicular load on the existing Pune-Mumbai Expressway. The officials told the portal that the new route is planned to ease pressure on the current corridor while enhancing connectivity between major industrial and key logistics hubs in western Maharashtra.

NHAI Invites Bids For Mumbai-Pune Expressway

According to officials, the proposed eight-lane greenfield expressway will be capable of handling around three lakh vehicles daily and substantially improve freight movement between Pune, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, JNPT Port and major industrial corridors. The proposal comes after an announcement made by Union Road Transport and Highway Minister Nitin Gadkari earlier in December 2025, when he announced plans for a parallel Pune-Mumbai Expressway as part of a larger infrastructure push in Maharashtra. He stated the new expressway would extend from the Atal Setu-JNPA region to Pune’s Shivare Junction and cut the Pune-Mumbai travel time to just one-and-a-half hours.

Also Read: Bihar Plans 5 Key Expressways Like Varanasi-Aurangabad Highway To Boost Connectivity & Cut Travel Time

Additionally, Pune is also set to get several key highway projects, including the ₹4,207-crore Talegaon-Chakan-Shikrapur elevated corridor consisting of a multi-level transport structure comprising a surface road, two flyovers and a Metro line.

Are you excited about this expressway? Let us know.

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