1.10.16

A wider Mumbai-Pune Expressway in the making


The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will soon add two lanes to the six-lane six-km stretch from Khalapur toll plaza to Khalapur exit on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway . From the Khalapur exit to Sinhagad Institute, Pune, another eight-lane road (four lanes each on the Mumbai and Pune corridors) will be built under the tunnel, as part of augmentation of the Expressway at a total cost of Rs.3,500 crore. It will provide respite from traffic jams near Amrutanjan bridge.
MSRDC joint managing director P S Mandpe said that the state government had given administrative approval for the work. “A detailed project report has been prepared by a consultant. We cannot specify when work will start. A request for qualification bids will be invited soon.“
MSRDC chief engineer B N Ohol said, “The NH-4 has four lanes, while the Expressway has six lanes. The stretch between the toll plaza and exit has a bottleneck. The addition of two lanes will address this problem.“
MSRDC executive engineer Sanjay Gangurde said, “The 13 km road under two each separate tunnels and bridges will have eight lanes. The tunnel will start on the right side at the Khalapur exit while moving on the Pune corridor.Both corridors will have two tunnels, but the 13 km road will be away from the existing E-way , except at the starting and end points. After the Khalapur exit, vehicles will enter the tunnel to reach the spot near Sinhagad Institute. This Expressway section, free of ghats, will cross Lonavala city .“
Toll collection on the E-way , which was to be carried out till 2019, has been extended to 2035.

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