Mumbai, September 20: The Shivdi-Nhava Sheva Sea Link Highway, also known as Atal Setu, will soon connect with the upcoming Solapur-Satara expressway, a project aimed at drastically reducing travel time between Mumbai and Pune. Estimated at INR 17,500 crore, the 130-kilometre expressway will feature eight lanes, providing faster connectivity between Atal Setu, JNPT (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust), Pune, Satara, and Solapur.

Officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have stated that this new expressway could cut travel time between Mumbai and Pune by 75 to 90 minutes, according to a report in PunekarNews. The current 3-4 hour journey is expected to be reduced to just two hours, greatly easing traffic congestion. 'No Cracks on Atal Setu': MMRDA Official Dismisses Congress' Claim, Admits There Are Minor Cracks on Service Road Connecting to Sea Bridge in Mumbai.

The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, often plagued by traffic bottlenecks in the Ghat area, is already undergoing upgrades, including a 'missing lane' project near Lonavala to improve flow. However, with increasing urbanisation and industrial development along the route, these efforts may soon prove inadequate. Mumbai: 'Cracks Develop on Atal Setu, India's Longest Sea Bridge', Says Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole; Inspects MTHL.

In light of this, the expressway connecting Atal Setu to Solapur and Satara is seen as a critical long-term solution to address the rising demand for efficient travel. Additionally, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, recently announced plans for a 14-lane highway linking Atal Setu with Bengaluru, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Pune's Ring Road, further improving regional connectivity.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 20, 2024 04:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).