Maharashtra Government Allocates ₹200 Crore for Service Roads on Pune–Nashik Highway
The Maharashtra Government has approved funding of ₹200 crore to acquire land for constructing service roads along the Pune–Nashik Highway. This marks a significant step in easing long-standing congestion across one of the region’s most economically active corridors. The allocation is aimed at supporting an eventual elevated corridor, a project that has been under consideration for several years and is expected to unlock smoother, safer, and more sustainable mobility for thousands of daily commuters.
The sanctioned funds will enable the state to begin land acquisition along the stretch between Nashik Phata in Pimpri-Chinchwad and Rajgurunagar in Khed taluka. Officials familiar with the project said service roads form a critical first layer of the broader highway redesign, particularly for an elevated system that seeks to segregate fast-moving intercity traffic from localised vehicle movement. This separation is essential to reducing congestion hotspots and improving traffic flow in a region that has witnessed rapid industrialisation. The Pune–Nashik Highway carries a mix of passenger vehicles, freight carriers, and industrial transport, and its current configuration often forces heavy vehicles and commuter traffic to share limited road space. As a senior transport planner noted, inadequate service lanes have long amplified delays, fuel burn, and vehicular emissions—issues that strain both commuters and the environment. By enabling dedicated side roads, the state hopes to create a more predictable traffic pattern while shifting towards a cleaner and more efficient mobility ecosystem.
Much of the pressure on this corridor is driven by the adjoining Chakan Industrial Area, one of Maharashtra’s busiest manufacturing hubs. The area sits strategically between Pimpri-Chinchwad and Rajgurunagar, drawing thousands of workers daily and hosting continuous heavy vehicle movement. Industry experts believe improved service road infrastructure will offer significant relief by diverting local and industrial transport away from the main highway. Reduced congestion could also support more reliable logistics operations and lower operational costs for businesses dependent on time-sensitive freight. Local representatives have described the funding approval as a long-awaited intervention that acknowledges both commuter hardship and industrial needs. According to civic observers, better-managed roads can contribute to more equitable urban mobility by reducing travel stress, enhancing safety for two-wheeler users and pedestrians, and cutting emissions caused by idling vehicles. In growing peri-urban regions such as Pimpri-Chinchwad and Khed, such improvements are viewed as foundational for transitioning towards more resilient and inclusive urban development.
While the elevated corridor proposal is still at a preparatory stage, planners argue that the service road component sets the groundwork for future expansions. The immediate challenge, they caution, will be ensuring transparent land acquisition processes and community engagement, especially in rapidly urbanising belts. For now, the funding signals intent: a move towards building infrastructure that better supports economic growth while edging the region closer to sustainable mobility goals.
