The Maharashtra Public Works Department (PWD) has proposed a new four-lane highway to ease congestion in Pune, HT reported.

The highway spanning around 135 km would be completed at an estimated amount of Rs 12,000 crore. The proposed highway will ease traffic congestion on the Shikrapur-Chakan-Talegaon-Lonavala corridor by connecting Shirur, Chakan, Talegaon, Shiroli, Karjat, and JNPT (Uran).

It will provide an alternative route to vehicles traveling between Marathwada and Mumbai, which will reduce the burden on city roads.

The PWD has planned to build the highway under the BOT (Build, Operate, and Transfer) model which would consist of 4 lanes and eight bypasses. It will also have a tunnel section at Khandala ghat section.

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How much time will it take to build?

The proposal has been submitted to the Maharashtra cabinet and is currently under review. It must be noted that Shirur and Chakan are the industrial areas due to which the volume of traffic remains high on the Shikrapur-Chakan-Talegaon-Lonavala corridor.

It causes delays and logistical inefficiencies. The report quoted PWD executive engineer RY Patil who said that the highway will connect the National Highway near Vadodara to JNPT.

Apart from the state  Infrastructure Committee, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the proposal has also been submitted to the State Environment Impact Assessment Committee for environmental clearances.

Authorities expect that once the project gets final approval, land acquisition would take one year, followed by two-and-a-half years of construction.

Project to reduce traffic congestion, spur economic growth

Authorities believe that the project will reduce 80 per cent of traffic congestion in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad.

The highway is also expected to boost economic growth in the state by improving logistical connectivity to JNPT, which is India's largest container port and key trade and logistics hub.

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