The much-awaited expansion of the Rane Nagar vehicular underpass in Nashik, a critical project to decongest the busy Mumbai-Agra highway, is now expected to take about a month longer to complete. Senior officials from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) have indicated that the construction of two additional lanes, initially slated for a December 2025 finish, will likely extend until the end of January.
Project Timeline and Reason for Delay
The ambitious work to augment the underpass with two extra lanes commenced in June 2025. The primary objective was to segregate the traffic flow, allowing vehicles on the service roads to pass through without getting entangled with crossover traffic. While the underpass was completely shut for traffic initially, one lane was reopened for crossover movement in November 2025 after the structure's length was increased.
However, the final stages of construction, particularly the building of ramps for the flyover, are still underway. NHAI authorities have confirmed they are striving to wrap up all remaining work within the coming weeks, with a firm completion target set for the end of January.
Addressing Nashik's Growing Traffic Woes
The decision to expand the underpass stems from the rapid urban development along the Mumbai-Agra Highway corridor in Nashik. The surge in residential and commercial activity has led to a continuous and heavy flow of vehicles on both sides of the highway using the Rane Nagar underpass.
This created a persistent bottleneck. Motorists on the service roads, who did not intend to cross over to the other side of the highway, were forced to wait in long queues behind vehicles making the crossover. This interference resulted in continuous traffic snarls at the junction, affecting daily commuters.
How the New Lanes Will Help
The new design aims to create a seamless passage for through traffic on the service roads. Once operational, the two additional lanes will specifically cater to vehicles traveling from Pathardi Phata towards Indiranagar on one service road and those moving in the opposite direction on the other side. These motorists will be able to use the underpass without any interruption from crossover traffic, significantly improving travel time and reducing congestion.
Senior NHAI officials have stated that after the project's completion, all vehicles on the service road along the highway at Rane Nagar will be able to utilize the underpass efficiently.
Similar Work at Indiranagar Underpass
In a related development, the NHAI has also undertaken comparable expansion work at the Indiranagar underpass, located just a couple of kilometres away from the Rane Nagar site. This vehicular underpass (VUP) has similarly been closed for crossover traffic to facilitate the construction work, indicating a concerted effort by the authorities to enhance traffic infrastructure on this crucial national highway stretch serving Nashik.
