• Source:JND
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Pune News: The Shivdi-Nhava Sheva Sea Link Highway, commonly known as Atal Setu, is set to connect with the upcoming expressway linking Solapur and Satara. This significant project, estimated to cost Rs 17,000 crore, aims to further reduce travel times between Mumbai and Pune.

Officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have confirmed that the new expressway will cut travel time between Mumbai and Pune by 90 to 75 minutes. Spanning 130 kilometres, the highway will link Atal Setu and JNPT (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust) directly to Pune, Satara and Solapur, featuring eight lanes to facilitate faster movement, according to Punekar news report.

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Mumbai-Pune Expressway Traffic

Currently, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway is often congested, particularly in the ghat sections, due to heavy traffic exacerbated by urban growth and industrial development along the route. To alleviate this, a "missing lane" is being constructed in the Lonavala area, nearing completion. However, experts believe this may not provide a long-term solution, making the new expressway a crucial development.

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In addition, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced plans for another major highway that will connect Atal Setu to Bengaluru and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. This new 14-lane road will also integrate with the Pune Ring Road, further enhancing regional connectivity.

In separate incident, the much-anticipated Thane Creek Bridge-3 on the Mumbai-Pune corridor is set for partial opening by the end of September. Three lanes for the Mumbai-Pune section will open first, while the entire bridge will be completed by January 2025, including the Pune-Mumbai lanes. The bridge has faced delays due to objections from the local fisherfolk and other factors. The 1.8-km bridge, constructed by Larsen & Toubro, will ease congestion on the busy corridor and is expected to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.