NHAI to build 30-km e-way linking MTHL to Pune highway | Mumbai News

MUMBAI: The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is set to begin construction on a 30km expressway connecting Pagote near JNPT (MTHL‘s landing point toward Panvel) to Chauk Junction on the old Pune Highway.

The new corridor will traverse the Uran-Chirner Highway (starting as Amra Marg from Navi Mumbai), Goa Highway, and Pune Expressway, offering entry and exit points along the route.
The project, estimated to cost around Rs 3,700 crore, will boost connectivity by reducing travel time from Mumbai to the highway leading to Goa to just 20-30 minutes from MTHL (Atal Setu).
At the Sewri end of Atal Setu, the expressway will connect to the Coastal Road and Sea Link near Worli. Beyond the old Pune Highway, future extensions will link the corridor with the upcoming Alibaug-Virar Multimodal Corridor, Murbad-Junnar Highway, Samruddhi Expressway, and Nashik Highway near Padgha (via Morbe, Karjat, Shelu, Wagani and Badlapur).
The extension will also connect with Vadodara-Mumbai Greenfield Expressway, part of the under-construction Delhi-Mumbai Corridor. Once the expansions are complete, the 30km stretch up to Chauk will serve as a ring road parallel to Alibaug-Virar Corridor, facilitating access-controlled, uninterrupted travel
The initial 30km stretch is expected to be completed within 30 months, with work orders likely to be issued soon and construction anticipated to begin within seven months. NHAI regional manager Anshumali Shrivastav noted that the corridor will streamline traffic for over 10,000 vehicles, including multi-axle container trucks, that currently use various disconnected stretches of highways. This will decongest roads and improve travel times.
“The proposed six-lane greenfield corridor will require the acquisition of approximately 176 hectares of land and will help decongest critical junctions in Navi Mumbai, Panvel, and Kalamboli. This will improve logistical efficiency for freight transport in port and airport zones, while driving economic growth and industrial development by reducing travel time and distances for traffic to JNPT, Goa, Pune and Mumbai,” said Shrivastav, chief general manager of NHAI’s western region. The project has secured environmental and other essential clearances.