NHAI to Deliberate Six-Laning of Mumbai-Nashik Highway Amid Samruddhi Corridor
Pune: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is set to deliberate on the expansion of a 90-kilometer stretch of the Mumbai–Nashik highway, running from Vadpe near Mumbai to Gonde near Nashik. This development comes nearly eight months after the late deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar highlighted the deteriorating condition of key national highways in Maharashtra.
Proposal Under Scrutiny
Senior officials stated on Tuesday that the proposal for six-laning this corridor will require careful examination, especially since the Samruddhi corridor now runs parallel to the route. "A request was placed last year. We will have to deliberate on the six-laning, keeping in view traffic patterns and the parallel expressway," an official explained.
Officials clarified that repairs have already been carried out on the Vadape–Gonde section, and the road is currently in good condition. Additionally, important works on the Mumbai–Nashik section of the national highway are in the pipeline, anticipating a surge in traffic for the Kumbh Mela in Nashik next year.
Pawar's Advocacy for Highway Improvements
In July 2025, Ajit Pawar wrote a series of letters to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, emphasizing the "alarming" condition of the Pune–Nashik and Nashik–Mumbai highways. He noted that both highways were riddled with potholes, leading to a significant increase in accidents.
Pawar pointed out that despite regular toll collection, there was little visible improvement in road quality and safety, urging urgent and durable repairs. He also demanded the widening of three major highways in the Pune region:
- NH 60 (Nashik Phata to Khed): Expansion from four lanes to six.
- NH 65 (Hadapsar to Yavat): Expansion from four lanes to six.
- NH 548D (Talegaon–Chakan–Shikrapur): Expansion from two lanes to four.
He argued that these highways pass through crucial industrial and residential zones, including IT hubs and automobile manufacturing clusters, and their poor condition causes severe bottlenecks and mental distress for commuters.
Current Projects and Progress
On the 208-kilometer Pune–Nashik highway (NH-60), 177 kilometers fall under NHAI's jurisdiction, while the remaining stretch is within the NH wing of PWD Maharashtra. To ease congestion in the city, an eight-lane elevated corridor spanning approximately 30 kilometers has been proposed from Nashik Phata to Khed, with a completion window of 36 months.
The Nashik Phata–Rajgurunagar elevated corridor project is being implemented by NHAI. "The bidding process has already been initiated. Land acquisition is at an advanced stage and is likely to be completed by March 15," stated officials from NHAI.
Senior NHAI sources revealed that the project is being closely monitored at the highest level, with regular reviews of land acquisition and bidding processes to ensure timely completion. A senior NHAI official has also informed the Chakan Industries Association, which has been advocating for the corridor's development to ease traffic in the industrial belt. Commuters have long demanded the widening of this corridor.
Concretisation Efforts and Future Goals
Officials added that the remaining length of the NH-60 Pune–Nashik highway from Khed to Sinnar, about 105 kilometers, is being concretised. "This is intended to enhance the durability of the road. Overall, about 50% of the concretisation work has been completed, and NHAI aims to finish the entire stretch before June 2026 through its contractors," officials said.
