Mumbai-Pune Expressway To Become 10-Lane Superhighway; Toll Collection Extended To 2060
MUMBAI/PUNE – In a move that promises to redefine the commute between Maharashtra’s two biggest economic hubs, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway is officially set for a massive 10-lane expansion.
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has announced that work on the ambitious project will commence immediately after the 2026 monsoon season. However, this infrastructure upgrade comes with a caveat for commuters: the toll collection period is now proposed to be extended by another 15 years, pushing the deadline to the year 2060.
Faster Commute: 10-Laning to End Traffic Bottlenecks
The 94.6 km Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway, which currently operates as a 6-lane corridor (with some 8-lane sections), has been struggling with massive congestion. Current traffic data shows the road handles over 65,000 vehicles on weekdays and exceeds 1,00,000 on weekends.
The new Mumbai-Pune Expressway 10-lane expansion aims to provide a uniform width across the entire stretch. This upgrade is expected to reduce travel time significantly and eliminate the frequent “crawling” traffic experienced near the ghats and toll plazas.
Project Financing and the 2060 Toll Extension
With an estimated project cost hovering between ₹14,260 crore and ₹16,000 crore, MSRDC is looking at independent financing. Since the state budget did not provide a direct allocation, the corporation plans to raise capital through loans from major financial institutions.
To ensure the repayment of these loans, MSRDC has submitted a proposal to the state government to extend the toll collection rights.
- Current Toll Expiry: 2045
- Proposed New Expiry: 2060
If approved by the cabinet’s infrastructure committee, commuters will be paying tolls for an additional 15 years to fund this world-class upgrade.
Phased Construction to Minimize Disruptions
MSRDC Managing Director Anil Gaikwad stated that the work will be executed in phases to ensure that the 1.5 lakh daily commuters are not inconvenienced.
- Start Date: Post-monsoon 2026.
- Completion Target: 2029–2030.
- Land Acquisition: Minimal. MSRDC already owns the majority of the required land, except for small patches near tunnel zones like Kamshet and Bhatan.
Safety First: New Truck Terminal at Taje
Beyond just widening the road, the project focuses on safety. A dedicated 5-acre truck terminal is planned near the Khalapur toll plaza (Taje). This facility will accommodate 500 heavy vehicles, providing a dedicated space for truck drivers to rest, thereby preventing heavy vehicles from parking on the expressway shoulders—a major cause of accidents in the past.
Integration with the “Missing Link”
The expansion will seamlessly integrate with the nearly completed “Missing Link” project. The Missing Link, featuring the world’s widest tunnels, is expected to open by May 2026, already bypassing the treacherous Khandala Ghat section. The 10-laning project will ensure that the rest of the highway matches this high-capacity infrastructure.
