Mumbai–Pune Expressway : India’s First Expressway

The Mumbai Pune Expressway is officially known as Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway. It is India’s first Expressway having 6 lanes and access-controlled tolls. It covers 94.5 kilometers, connecting Mumbai and Pune. The expressway was made fully functionalized in the year 2002, adding fresh levels of safety and speed in transportation to the nation’s roads. This expressway is included in the busiest roads of India. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the cars that traverse the expressway daily, the Mumbai Pune Expressway foodcourts serve as a relief.

Kalamboli, Navi Mumbai is the starting point of this expressway and it terminates at Kiwale, Pune. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway passes through the beautiful Sahyadri mountain range having multiple passes and tunnels in its way. The expressway has 5 interchanges:

1.     Kon
2.     Chowk
3.     Kusgaon
4.     Khalapur
5.     Talegaon

The Mumbai-Pune Expressway has 2 carriageways, with 3 lanes each. It is separated through a divider in the center and on the shoulders of concrete on each side.  2 wheelers, 3 wheelers, and even pedestrians aren’t permitted on this route. Halting on expressways is prohibited as well. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway has been designed in order to handle one lakh power control units and handles around 43,000 of them daily.

The Mumbai-Pune Expressway or The Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway has enabled a reduction in travel duration from Kalamboli to Kilwale of almost 2 hours. The Mumbai to Pune zone became extremely packed and so, the introduction of this expressway proved as a major relief for intercity travelers. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway has been constructed, maintained & operated totally by the Maharashtra Government through Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation.

Mumbai-Pune Expressway: History

The state Government allotted the foundation of Mumbai Pune Expressway in Maharashtra to Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) in March 1997 on the basis of the Build to Operate Transfer, permitting the organization to hold the toll for thirty years. The Government of India & the Ministry of Environment and Forests gave approval on the 13th of October in the year 1997. The forest clearance was given on the 11th of November in the year 1997.

The notice for tender was spread all over the country through the Internet and leading newspapers. A total of one hundred thirty-three tenders were released & fifty-five tenders were collected because of the wide publicity. After evaluating technically and financially, orders for work were released to 4 contractors on January 1, 1998.

The country’s first expressway was built and finished under the supervision of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation. The cost of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway was ₹16.3 billion to be built and completed. The initial sections were opened in the year 2000 and the entire expressway was then opened completely in April 2002. There was a loop of wire fencing around the entire length of the expressway to keep out animals.

Mumbai-Pune Expressway: Tunnels 

 Mumbai-Pune Expressway: Distance 

 Mumbai-Pune Expressway: Toll Plaza

The Mumbai Pune Expressway toll is normally collected from Khalapur in Pali Phata for the direction of Mumbai to Pune & further at Talegaon for the direction of Pune to Mumbai. The charge of the toll starts from INR 270 for the cars that are private ranges to INR 1750 for the multi-axle trailer purpose trucks. According to the Right to Information inquiry set up by Vivek Velinda, the collection data of tolls are kept as a secret. So, the contract that was signed with Ideal Road Builders (IRB) has been uploaded but the data for the collection is not found. And there are no further plans to set up any such data in the future as well. 

Mumbai-Pune Expressway: Latest News

Pune: The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation will add more rumble trips at certain points along the ghat section of the expressway to control even more vehicular speed, especially when fog reduces visibility. This stretch covers a span of 10 km.

After 3 people died in a car accident, an MSRDC official said that the government body is preparing a plan to keep the expressway safe for motorcyclists, especially during the winter season. The incident took place on the Khopoli exit of the expressway. The Mumbai Pune Expressway news is surrounded by accidents and mishaps on most occasions.

In an interview with Times of India, an official said “Speed limits of vehicles cannot be changed based on seasons. But with the ghat section witnessing heavy fog, particularly during the winter, steps are being taken. We are in the process of identifying a few spots on both lanes where rumble strips will be set up. With the aim of reducing the speed of vehicles. The calculation on the number of strips to be set up is on. They mentioned that they cannot put many strips as that may prove counterproductive”. 

The official further added “Work on cleaning of the crash barriers is on & blinkers and tapes will be put on them, especially on the curves along the Expressway. Its edges and the median will also see more blinkers & tapes. But the motorists must stay alert and should not indulge in overtaking speeding, and lane cutting”.

The Mumbai State Road Development Corporation is now considering adding fog lights along the ghat section while increasing the number of reflective tapes and blinkers as well.

As per the recent reports, three people lost their lives, and six were severely injured in a pile-up that involved 6 vehicles. This devastating incident occurred around 5:30 am near the Khopoli exit of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Speed had been the cause of the accident, said the police.

Mumbai-Pune Expressway: Route Map

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