The third expressway between Pune and Mumbai, a 130 km greenfield corridor directly connecting Atal Setu to Pune has faced another setback due to land acquisition delays.
This proposed expressway is an extension of the Pune-Bengaluru Expressway up to Mumbai and is expected to reduce travel time between Pune and Mumbai to just 90 minutes.
However, now the excitement to travel seamlessly right up to Atal Setu from Pune has collapsed as the commencement of tendering process to start the work has been further postponed to October 1. This is a series of over 15 such extensions as NHAI guidelines mandate a minimum of 90 percent land acquisition before the actual construction work can begin.
Missed targets for land acquisition and pending environmental clearances have led NHAI to further push the opening of bids for proposed expressway.
Project Overview
This 130-km greenfield corridor is expected to connect Pune directly to Atal Setu, reducing the travel time to Mumbai to just 90 minutes. Not just Mumbai, this expressway is crucial for connectivity to the upcoming growth hubs like Third Mumbai and Fourth Mumbai and the Navi Mumbai International Airport.
It is being developed in two phases. Phase 1 (Pagote to Chowk) is approximately 30 km long and Phase 2 ( Chowk to Shivare, near Pune) is around 100 km.
This expressway would have also given direct connectivity to Punekars to the International Airport at Navi Mumbai, presenting them with more flying options to domestic and international destinations till Pune’s own Purandar Airport started operations.
It is now left to be seen whether October 01, the new date for opening bids for construction of this corridor, will be honored, which is subject to completion of land acquisition targets and environmental clearences.
