₹12K cr highway proposed to address traffic congestion

The road is expected to decongest heavily used Shikrapur-Chakan-Talegaon-Lonavala corridor, which sees a high volume of traffic

- Siddharth Gadkari

PUNE: In a bid to address increasing traffic congestion in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, the Maharashtra public works department (PWD) has proposed a new, four-lane highway connecting Shirur, Chakan, Talegaon, Shiroli, Karjat, and JNPT (Uran).

Spanning around 135 kilometres with the cost estimated to be ₹12,000 crore, the project aims to provide an alternative route for vehicles travelling between Marathwada and Mumbai, significantly reducing the burden on city roads. The proposal is currently under review and awaiting final approval from the state cabinet.

The proposed highway is expected to decongest the heavily used Shikrapur-Chakan-Talegaon-Lonavala corridor, which sees a high volume of traffic due to the presence of major industrial zones in Chakan and Shirur. Frequent bottlenecks on these roads lead to delays, increased transportation costs and logistical inefficiencies. The new highway will serve as a direct and faster connection to Mumbai, offering relief to thousands of daily commuters and transporters.