Pune Traffic Woes: Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Calls For Widening Of Key National Highways

To address the worsening traffic congestion in Pune and its surrounding areas, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has written to Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, calling for the widening of three critical national highways that pass through Pune — NH 60, NH 65, and NH 548D .

In his letter, Pawar pointed out that with traffic congestion rising sharply in Pune’s metropolitan and industrial zones, NH 60 (Nashik Phata to Khed) and NH 65 (Hadapsar to Yavat), both currently four lanes should be expanded to six lanes, while NH 548D (Talegaon–Chakan–Shikrapur), presently a two‑lane stretch, needs to be widened to four lanes.

He highlighted that the presence of educational institutions, industrial zones, colonies, hospitals, petroleum and automobile industries as well as commercial hubs on these three roads has intensified traffic pressure.

Pawar further cautioned that the maximum number of vehicles travelling on these routes has been exceeded.

In such a situation, work should be done to increase the lanes on this highway immediately, so that an alternative route can also be available for the work of the elevated corridor to be constructed in the near future.

Emphasising that these highways serve as key gateways into Pune, Pawar said the widening of NH 548D in particular would serve as a temporary alternative till the final stage of the ongoing elevated highway tender.

He urged Gadkari to approve the proposal without delay and to provide the necessary funds and administrative clearances to ease Pune’s industrial traffic woes.

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