Commuters traveling towards Mumbai via the Mumbai-Pune Expressway will face disruptions as the exit towards the city in Panvel will be shut for six months starting February 11, 2025. The closure is due to the construction of a new flyover and underpass at Kalamboli Circle under the Kalamboli Junction improvement project, being executed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).
The order for the closure was issued by Tirupati Kakade, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Navi Mumbai, under the Motor Vehicles Act. The restriction will remain in place until the construction work is completed.
Impact on Traffic and Alternate Routes
The closure will affect all types of vehicles, including light and heavy transport, traveling towards Panvel, Mumbra, and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT). Authorities have provided alternate routes for affected commuters:
- For vehicles heading towards Panvel, Goa, and JNPT: They will be diverted at Konphata (9.600 km) to NH-48 via Palaspe Circle to reach their destinations.
- For vehicles from Pune to Mumbai, bound for Taloja, Kalyan, and Shilphata: They should continue straight from 1.200 km on the Panvel-Sion Highway, take a right beneath the Purusharth Petrol Pump flyover, and follow the route through Roadpali and NH-48.
Kalamboli Junction Improvement Project
The Kalamboli Circle flyover and underpass construction is aimed at reducing traffic congestion in the area. Once completed, officials expect smoother traffic movement at this crucial junction.
Mumbai-Pune Expressway: A Vital Corridor
The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, India’s first six-lane, fully access-controlled expressway, spans 94.5 km and has significantly reduced travel time between Mumbai and Pune to around 2 to 2.5 hours.
Opened in 2002, the expressway bypasses the congested old Mumbai-Pune Highway (NH-48) and serves as a crucial route for passenger and commercial traffic heading towards Bengaluru, Goa, and southern India.
The expressway features several tunnels, including the Bhatan, Madap, and Kamshet tunnels, and has designated toll plazas for revenue collection. With a speed limit of 80 km/h for cars, it offers a scenic drive through the Sahyadri Hills, especially during the monsoon season.
Due to increasing vehicular traffic, expansion projects are already underway, including constructing additional lanes and bypasses to ease congestion and improve connectivity.
Sources By Agencies