The Rs 500 billion Pune–Bengaluru Greenfield Expressway project is currently awaiting final clearance from the central government, despite both Maharashtra and Karnataka having approved and submitted the detailed project report (DPR) in February. The report was prepared by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

According to project supervisory officer Omkar Jagdale, land acquisition will begin only once the Centre gives its formal approval.

Part of the Centre’s Bharatmala Pariyojana, the proposed 745-kilometre eight-lane expressway is designed to drastically reduce travel time between Pune and Bengaluru from the current 12–14 hours to just 6–7 hours. The corridor will run through 12 districts — three in Maharashtra and nine in Karnataka.

The expressway will begin at Kanjale village on the proposed Pune Ring Road, cutting across Satara and Sangli in Maharashtra. It will then pass through Belagavi, Bagalkot, Gadag, Koppal, Vijayanagar, Davanagere, Chitradurga, Tumakuru, and Bengaluru Rural before entering Bengaluru city.

Of the estimated 21,000 acres required for the project, around 7,166 acres will be acquired in Maharashtra and 12,355 acres in Karnataka.

Rajendra Patil, who runs a logistics company in Pune, said the expressway will be a game-changer for businesses. “Delays and traffic jams on the existing highway hurt our operations. This project will be a lifeline for thousands of commuters and companies.”