Tender Issued for 14-Lane Highway from Mumbai to Bengaluru; Traffic Congestion in Pune to Ease as Vehicles Will Bypass the City

Pune, 16th September 2024: Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that construction on a new 14-lane highway from Mumbai to Bengaluru will begin within six months. He claimed that this project will help alleviate traffic congestion in Pune, as vehicles traveling through the area will no longer need to enter the city.

Gadkari made the announcement during the awards function at the College of Engineering Pune (COEP) Technological University. He noted that the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, which was built during his tenure as Maharashtra’s Public Works Minister, was designed with the next 50 years in mind. However, the current highway is becoming insufficient to handle the growing traffic. As a result, a new highway will be constructed from Atal Setu to Bengaluru.

“A tender has been issued for the highway, and the construction of this 14-lane road will begin in six months,” Gadkari stated. “This highway will connect to the Pune Ring Road, which means traffic congestion in the city will be reduced as vehicles will bypass Pune instead of entering it.” He also mentioned that this route will link to the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar road.

Gadkari stressed that while there is no shortage of funds in the country, there is a lack of honest and efficient workers. He highlighted the potential of systems like insurance, pensions, and bonds to generate substantial opportunities.

In his speech, Gadkari criticized the inefficiency of government officials, stating that internal factionalism among administrative officers mirrors caste-based disputes in society. He pointed out that poorly prepared Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) lead to accidents and injuries affecting millions of people.

With a humorous comparison, Gadkari remarked that officials treat file reports like their wives, keeping the files with them for three months without taking any action.

He also expressed concern over the future of drivers, stating that 22 lakh people in the country could lose their jobs due to the rise of autonomous vehicles. Gadkari vowed that autonomous vehicles will not be sold in India as long as he is in charge.