Pune-Satara Highway Upgrade: Commuters Get Relief as NHAI Expands Service Roads to Three Lanes

PUNE – In a significant boost to regional connectivity and commuter safety, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has completed a major upgradation project on the Pune-Satara Highway (NH-48). A key highlight of the project is the widening of service roads from two lanes to three, aimed at segregating local traffic from high-speed highway vehicles.

The project, executed in collaboration with M D Infra Company, involved the resurfacing of the main carriageway and the strategic expansion of service roads. According to NHAI officials, approximately 40 kilometers of the total 120-kilometer stretch have seen these service road improvements, specifically in areas where land availability permitted and previous road conditions were poor.

Enhanced Safety and Capacity

The upgraded service roads now boast a width of 10.5 meters. This expansion is designed to accommodate local traffic, two-wheelers, and three-wheelers, preventing them from merging with the fast-moving heavy vehicles on the main highway, a frequent cause of accidents in the past.

Sanjay Kadam, NHAI Pune Project Director, emphasized the project’s safety goals:

“Our focus was to address recurring traffic congestion and accident-prone spots on the Pune-Satara highway. By adding a third lane to the service road, we have created better capacity and safer movement for both light and heavy vehicles. Increased road width directly contributes to reducing accidents and ensures a smoother driving experience.”

Commuters Welcome the Move

Regular travelers have already noted a marked difference during peak hours. A resident, who commutes daily between Pune and Shirwal, shared his relief. “Earlier, the service road used to get heavily congested, forcing smaller vehicles onto the main highway. After the widening, traffic movement has become much smoother,” he said.

Similarly, another frequent traveler from Satara, noted that the wider roads have significantly reduced the stress of driving. “Two-wheelers can now use the service road comfortably without mixing with fast-moving traffic. It feels much safer now,” she added.

The completion of this work marks a vital step in improving one of Western Maharashtra’s busiest arterial routes, promising shorter travel times and a reduction in the highway’s historically high accident rate.

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