A major road connectivity project has been approved by the Maharashtra government, with a 134-km, four-lane highway planned between Neral in Karjat and Shirur in Pune district. The proposed corridor is expected to serve as an alternative to the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, where heavy congestion has increasingly been reported during weekends, holidays and peak travel periods.
The announcement was made by deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar, who said that the new highway had been cleared by the state government. It was stated that the route would begin at Neral in Raigad district and connect to Shirur on the Pune–Ahilyanagar highway. The highway will pass through Vandre, Pait and Shiroli before reaching Shirur.
The project has been viewed as significant because the Mumbai–Pune Expressway has been facing repeated traffic disruptions. Recently, traffic congestion was reported during the inauguration of the Khopoli–Lonavala Missing Link, when motorists were left stranded for several hours in intense summer heat. Earlier, a tanker carrying inflammable propylene gas had overturned near the Adoshi tunnel in the Khandala ghat section, leading to a 33-hour disruption.
The new highway is expected to reduce pressure on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway by creating a parallel route for vehicles travelling towards Pune district and other regions. Improved access is also expected to be created between Mumbai, Pune, Marathwada and Ahilyanagar.
According to public works department officials, the corridor is likely to support economic, industrial and transport development across Raigad, Pune, Marathwada and Ahilyanagar. Better movement of vehicles is expected to benefit industrial belts such as Khed SEZ, Talegaon, Chakan, Ranjangaon and Supa. Development in Khed, Shirur, Ambegaon and Maval is also expected to receive a boost.
In a post on X, Pawar described the project as a “game changer” for Maharashtra’s development. It was said that the highway would help ease congestion on the Pune–Shirur road and improve direct connectivity with Mumbai and JNPT. The project is also expected to create fresh opportunities for industry, employment and investment. Pawar further said that the late deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar had made consistent efforts to move the project forward, and that completing it would be a tribute to his vision for Maharashtra’s overall development.