Mumbai: A new 13-kilometre connector between Khopoli and Sinhgad Institute near Pune on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway is nearing completion and is expected to be operational by December, according to officials from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). The project aims to ease congestion and significantly reduce travel time by allowing motorists to bypass the accident-prone Lonavala–Khandala ghat section.

Currently, the 19-km stretch between Khopoli and Pune via the ghat roads creates a major traffic bottleneck, particularly during weekends and peak hours. The ghat section funnels traffic from six expressway lanes and four from the old NH-4 into just six lanes, causing severe congestion and increasing accident risk. In 2024 alone, the expressway recorded 191 accidents, highlighting the need for safer and faster alternatives.

Once operational, the connector will streamline traffic flow, especially ahead of the anticipated surge following the opening of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). The Mumbai–Pune Expressway already handles approximately 75,000 vehicles daily, with weekend traffic exceeding 1.2 lakh vehicles.

Designed to enhance safety and efficiency, the new bypass is expected to transform road travel between the two cities by reducing travel time, improving emergency response access, and offering a smoother driving experience through the hilly terrain.

In parallel, MSRDC has proposed a major upgrade to the expressway itself. A plan to widen the existing six-lane highway to ten lanes is in motion, with an estimated cost of Rs 14,000 crore. The proposal is set to be placed before the state cabinet for approval, after which the project will be implemented in phases.