Pune: In a major infrastructural boost, the Maharashtra government has allocated ₹7,515 crore for the construction of a 54-kilometer-long multi-level flyover between Pune and Shirur. The project aims to alleviate severe traffic congestion and significantly reduce travel time from the current two to two-and-a-half hours to just 80 minutes.
The Pune-Ahilyanagar highway is a critical route, facilitating travel across Maharashtra, including Vidarbha and Marathwada. It also serves as a major corridor for the Ranjangaon industrial estate and religious tourism to the Ashtavinayak temples. With over 1.5 lakh vehicles using this highway daily, growing traffic volume has led to chronic congestion, particularly in Wagholi, Lonikand, Koregaon Bhima, Shikrapur, Sanaswadi, Ranjangaon, Karegaon, Sardawadi, and Shirur.
Project Overview
The Maharashtra State Industrial Development Corporation (MSIDC) will oversee the flyover construction under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, following the Design, Finance, Build, Operate, and Transfer (DFBOT) system. The six-lane elevated corridor will run from Pune’s Kharadi Chowk to Shirur, featuring five designated entry and exit points at Kharadi, Lonikand, Shikrapur, Ranjangaon, and Shirur.
Key highlights of the project:
Total length: 54 kilometers
Estimated cost: ₹7,515 crore
Infrastructure: A six-lane elevated corridor with separate lanes for metro, light vehicles, and heavy transport
Entry/Exit Points: Kharadi, Lonikand, Shikrapur, Ranjangaon, and Shirur
Land acquisition: To be carried out where required
Metro extension: Proposed extension to Shirur to boost religious tourism, industrial access, and healthcare connectivity
Why an Elevated Corridor?
The Pune-Shirur stretch has experienced rapid urbanization, making large-scale road widening impractical. The government has, therefore, opted for a multi-level flyover, ensuring uninterrupted travel and reducing congestion. The new corridor is expected to bring down peak-hour travel time from two-and-a-half hours to just 80 minutes.
Officials confirm that the project will improve highway traffic flow while enhancing access to the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). Plans also include dedicated bus stops on the elevated stretch to optimize state transport (ST) and Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) bus services.
Traffic Congestion Challenges
The Pune-Shirur highway currently faces several traffic bottlenecks due to:
High vehicle density, with nearly one lakh Passenger Car Units (PCU) daily on the Pune-Wagholi stretch.
Heavy movement of both light and heavy industrial transport.
Unauthorized rickshaw and private bus stops obstructing traffic.
Frequent violations of traffic rules, including wrong-way driving.
Encroachment by street vendors and small businesses along the highway.
