Pune Accelerates Approval for 32 km Elevated Highway Corridor
Pune is making significant strides in decongesting one of its busiest transport routes with the proposed 32-kilometre elevated corridor along the Pune–Bengaluru Highway. The Union Road Transport Ministry has urged the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to accelerate the approval and tendering process for this ambitious project, which stretches from Dehu Road to Narhe.
The elevated expressway has been in the planning stages for nearly four years, but progress has been hampered by arbitration disputes with a private concessionaire. However, officials have confirmed that steps are being taken to terminate the existing contract amicably, clearing the way for the government to take the project forward without prolonged legal hurdles.
Once executed, the corridor is expected to significantly transform intra-city connectivity by separating through-traffic from local vehicular movement. According to experts, the corridor will not only reduce gridlock but also cut vehicular emissions in a city grappling with rising air pollution and mounting carbon load. Cleaner mobility solutions are critical for urban centres like Pune, which aspire to be climate-resilient and equitable in the face of rapid growth.
The highway stretch in question has witnessed exponential residential and commercial expansion, amplifying congestion and deteriorating air quality. The proposed elevated corridor is seen as a long-term investment in sustainable mobility by offering smoother transit, reducing idling time, and minimizing fuel wastage. Road planners also highlight the project’s potential to enhance freight efficiency for industries dependent on the Pune–Satara–Bengaluru logistics route.
In recent years, Pune has emerged as a focal point for debates around green mobility, zero-net carbon growth, and future-ready infrastructure. Urban researchers argue that while expressways provide immediate relief, they must be integrated with public transport systems, non-motorised mobility corridors, and last-mile connectivity solutions to ensure inclusivity. Without these, projects risk favouring only vehicular commuters while neglecting pedestrians, cyclists, and the marginalised.
Government sources have indicated that tendering for the project could begin even before final Cabinet approval, signalling urgency in pushing the initiative through. However, questions remain over financing, environmental impact assessments, and whether provisions for equitable access will be incorporated into the design. As Pune struggles with its ever-tightening road grid, the elevated corridor represents both an opportunity and a test. Its success will depend not merely on steel and concrete but on whether the city can blend infrastructure expansion with eco-conscious planning and socially inclusive transport priorities.
