Pune to Get 32.4 km Service Road to Ease Traffic Woes

13 Feb 2025 CW Team

Pune’s growing traffic congestion is set to ease with the construction of a 32.4-km-long service road between Khed Shivapur and Ravet, approved by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The ?6 billion ($72 million) project aims to reduce travel time, improve road safety, and decongest key bottlenecks along the busy corridor.

With 90% of land acquisition completed by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and the remaining 10% in progress under the Pune Municipal Corporation, work is set to begin in March 2025 and conclude within two years. The two-lane service road on both sides of the main highway will help divert local traffic, allowing smoother movement for long-distance commuters.

Currently, around 210,000 vehicles use this corridor daily, leading to severe congestion at hotspots like Narhe, Navale Pul, Warje, Chandni Chowk, and Ravet. Once completed, commuters are expected to save 15 to 20 minutes per trip, enhancing overall traffic efficiency.

The project will be executed in three phases:

Khed Shivapur to the new Katraj tunnel Warje to Balewadi Wakad to Ravet Pune’s rapidly rising vehicle numbers, with a 10% annual increase, have overwhelmed existing infrastructure. This project aligns with the city’s broader urban transport strategy, which includes metro expansion and new flyovers.

Apart from easing congestion, the service road is expected to lower fuel consumption and emissions, contributing to sustainable urban mobility. However, experts emphasize the need for pedestrian pathways and cycling lanes to ensure a truly future-ready transport network. If executed effectively, the initiative could serve as a model for other cities facing similar congestion issues.

Infrastructure Transport

09 Jan 2026

India Becomes First to Produce Bio-Bitumen for Roads

India has become the first country in the world to commercially produce bio-bitumen for use in road construction, according to Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. Bitumen, a black and viscous hydrocarbon derived from crude oil, is a key binding material in road building, and the bio-based alternative is expected to significantly improve the sector’s environmental footprint.Addressing the CSIR Technology Transfer Ceremony in New Delhi, Mr Gadkari congratulated Council of Scientific and Industrial Research on achieving the milestone, noting that the initiative would help curb ..

HILT Policy Seen Boosting Telangana Revenue Sharply

The Hyderabad Industrial Land Transformation (HILT) Policy is expected to generate around Rs 1.08 billion in revenue for the Telangana state exchequer, according to Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu. Speaking in the Telangana Legislative Assembly, he said the policy would be implemented within a six-month timeframe in a transparent manner, with uniform rules applicable to all stakeholders. Mr Vikramarka noted that without the HILT Policy, the state would have earned only about Rs 1.2 million per acre. Under the new framework, however, revenue is projected to rise sharply to Rs 70 ..

India Post, MoRD Tie Up to Boost Rural Inclusion

The Department of Posts and the Ministry of Rural Development have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate rural transformation and expand financial, digital and logistics services for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and rural households across India. The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The collaboration aligns with the government’s “Dak Sewa, Jan Sewa” vision and seeks to repositi..