Hindustantimes wants to start sending you push notifications. Click allow to subscribe

Pune-Mumbai expressway, 20 minutes faster : Work begins

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByShrinivas Deshpande
Mar 26, 2019 02:58 PM IST

Khopoli bypass has long been in the plans, but work has now begun on the tunnel near Kusgaon.

After initial hurdles related to land acquisition, the construction work on the 13.3 kilometre bypass road between Khopoli and Kusgaon on the Pune-Mumbai expressway has started. Once completed, commuters between Pune and Mumbai will be able to avoid traffic snarls and save atleast 20 minutes of their travel time between the two cities.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) had alloted tender for the project to Hyderabad-based Navyug Construction, which started work last week. The officials of MSRDC said the construction will be carried out in three phases and is expected to completed within three years.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

In first phase, the firm has began work on the tunnel near Kusgaon. Work on three kilometres will be completed in the first year and work on the remaining kilometres will be completed in the next two years.

“Finally construction of the project has started. MSRDC has appointed Hyderabad-based private firm to construct the bypass between Khopoli and Kusgaon within three years,” said Shankar Dhote, chief engineer at MSRDC.

Earlier, MSRDC was facing hurdles in getting Forest Rights Act (FRA) certificates, which was sorted out by Raigad collectorate.

“Yes the project was delayed due to Forest Rights Act (FRA) certificate and many other clearances,”said Dhote.

He said that they received Forest Rights Act (FRA) certificate only a month back after which the project was started,

“We want to move ahead and complete the project as early as possible,” he said.

As per the government resolution (GR) issued by Maharashtra state government dated November 24, 2017, government has planned to construct a 13.5km bypass between Khalapur toll plaza and Kusgaon, which will likely to reduce travel time by almost 20 minutes. For this project,MSRDC had called two separate tenders one for viaduct and for another for tunnel. Currently, the expressway and the national highway merge, as a result of which, the six lanes see traffic intended for approximately 10 lanes. This slows down the traffic flow, especially in the ghat areas.The realignment will allow motorists to travel at a speed of 120 kilometres per hour and will cut down travel time between the two cities by 30 minutes, said officials.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
OPEN APP