The Maharashtra government has given its nod to the expansion of Mumbai-Pune Expressway and also sanctioned Rs 3,215 crore for the project. Under the expansion plan, aimed at cutting down the overall travel time by 20 minutes, a new 12-km long bypass with two tunnels and two viaducts will be added to the existing Expressway between Khopoli's exit and Kusgaon. Besides, an eight-lane elevated road would be constructed between Khalapur food mall and Khopoli on the E-way. The total cost of the project is Rs 7,000 crore.
“We have given approvals to long pending proposals on Mumbai Pune Expressway. There is a bypass at Khopoli exit and an elevated road between Khalapur toll plaza and Sinhgad Institute. The expansion work will take place in these areas. The expansion will reduce the travel time between the cities by 20 minutes,” public works department minister Eknath Shinde said.
The 12-km stretch had not received environment clearances and was awaiting the government’s green signal.
The underground tunnel for the bypass road requires it to be built 180 metres below the Lonavla lake. The irrigation department has already given an NOC for the project. The cost of the project will be recovered by extending the current toll concession period till 2035 without levying any additional charge, added Mr Shinde.
The tunnels between Khopoli's exit and Kusgaon are going to be 9.9-km long. Currently, the Expressway has six lanes, while the old highway is a four-lane road. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation had planned to provide 14 lanes between Mumbai and Pune.
