Pune-Satara In Just 1 Hour? NHAI Plans Flyovers & ₹6,000-Crore Expressway Upgrade

With rising traffic jams and accidents on the Pune-Bengaluru national highway, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced a series of infrastructure initiatives aimed at easing traffic movement and improving road safety along the Pune-Satara Expressway. Read on to know more.

New Expressway To Cut Pune-Satara Travel Time

As per a report by the Hindustan Times, Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari recently examined the Khambataki ghat section and Navale bridge area to assess the continuing traffic bottlenecks on the highway. Post the inspection, authorities have started developing plans to construct five to six flyovers at major congestion points between the two cities. The Officials told the portal that the proposed projects are expected to bring down travel time between the two cities to just one hour.

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The NHAI officials told the portal to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) worth nearly ₹6,000 crore that is currently under works for the proposed highway expansion and bypass project. The plan features flyovers at key points such as Khandala, Shirwal and other heavily congested points on the national highway. Authorities also believe that the project will help ease traffic noises caused by local village crossings, industrial traffic and the constant movement of heavy goods vehicles that often slow down traffic on the route.

Pune-Satara Witnesses Heavy Congestion

The Pune-Satara route has witnessed a rapid rise in traffic over the past few years, resulting in regular delays and accidents. To address the matter, the Centre and NHAI are pushing for multiple infrastructure projects, including multi-level flyovers and the proposed Pune-Satara western bypass project. Officials told the portal that the bypass project, estimated at ₹6,000 crore, is intended at diverting heavy vehicular traffic away from urban stretches and reducing pressure on the existing highway. Planning for the proposed 140-km corridor has already begun.

Regular travellers have supported the proposal, saying traffic congestion on the highway has become unbearable over the years. Pravin Jadhav, a businessman who frequently travels on the route, told the portal that travelling between Pune and Satara during peak hours has become extremely hectic. Traffic jams near Shirwal and Khambataki often waste one to two hours, especially because of heavy trucks and bottlenecks. If these flyovers are constructed, it will save both time and fuel for thousands of commuters.

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Good news for Pune and Satara travellers.

Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

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