Pune-Mumbai expressway widening set to get a push as MSRDC submits revised funding plan to govt

Pune: The long-delayed proposal to expand the Mumbai-Pune Expressway to 10 lanes may move ahead if state govt clears a revised funding plan submitted by MSRDC last week. Officials said if approval comes through this year, the project would be tendered under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, with construction expected to start next year and finish by 2030.The revised proposal focuses on the project’s financial feasibility. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has estimated that revenue generated from existing traffic over a suitable concession period will be sufficient to cover both capital and operational costs.“We have submitted the revised proposal and are awaiting govt’s decision. The project’s viability is being assessed based on traffic revenue over a fixed concession period.

Once approved, a contractor will be appointed under the BOT model. If the work order is issued in 2027, the project can be completed by 2030,” Rajesh Patil, joint managing director, MSRDC, said.The expansion is seen as critical due to the rapid rise in traffic on the corridor and the development of upcoming international airports in both Mumbai and Pune. “This corridor is a key strategic link and requires focused attention, especially with the new airports coming up,” Patil said.

The 94.6km expressway connecting Kalamboli (Navi Mumbai) to Kiwale near Pune opened in 2002. Although designed for a 30-year lifespan, it currently handles about 65,000 vehicles on weekdays and more than 1 lakh on weekends, with traffic growing annually by 5-6%.A key challenge will be executing construction while keeping one of India’s busiest expressways operational. “Managing traffic during construction will be the biggest engineering challenge. We will need a well-planned methodology to ensure uninterrupted movement,” Patil said.