Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has announced a infrastructure project set to significantly reduce travel times between Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru. The new expressway, under construction right now, will cut travel time between Mumbai and Pune to just 90 minutes, and Pune to Bengaluru will take only five hours, a significant improvement from current travel times.

The project, which kicked off without a formal ceremony, will begin at the Atal Tunnel in Mumbai, connect to Pune's ring road, and extend all the way to Bengaluru. Gadkari also shared that ₹50,000 crore will be invested in roadworks within Pune district alone, with infrastructure projects totalling ₹2 lakh crore already in progress. Additional projects worth ₹15,000 crore are set to begin soon.

Along with the expressway, plans include elevated road corridors in Pune and the expansion of Pune's airport. Despite challenges in land acquisition, Gadkari emphasised that effective planning and political will will overcome these obstacles. This new expressway promises to boost regional commerce, ease congestion, and create a more connected Maharashtra and Karnataka.