Mumbai: The ambitious Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar-Pune Expressway, estimated to cost Rs 25,000 crore, is facing delays due to ongoing land acquisition issues. The process, which has already seen major setbacks, is now expected to begin in January next year.
The expressway’s progress also hinges on the completion of the six-lane expansion of the 53 km Pune-Shirur stretch. Despite the delays, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has confirmed that the planned alignment of the expressway will remain unchanged, reported Lokmat Times.
Land Acquisition & Current Progress
The Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC) and NHAI had signed an agreement in June 2024 to facilitate the expressway’s construction. While soil testing has already been completed at Jalta, the land acquisition process remains sluggish. Originally announced 33 months ago, the acquisition process has seen little movement, with 26 months passing since the issuance of Notification 3(A), which marked the formal intent to acquire land for the project.
The district collector offices of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Ahilyanagar (Ahmednagar), Pune and MSIDC will coordinate the acquisition process, according to the report. The proposed expressway will pass through multiple villages, including Peerwadi, Hirapur, Sundarwadi, Jalta, Adgaon Budruk, Chincholi and Ghardon in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar taluka, as well as certain villages in Paithan taluka. Additionally, to accommodate an industrial project, the expressway’s alignment will be modified near Bidkin.
Renovation Of Existing Route At Rs 9,000 Crore
In parallel with the expressway project, the existing Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar-Pune route is set to undergo a major renovation at an estimated cost of Rs 9,000 crore. Managed by MSIDC, this project has already been transferred to the corporation’s control. The Maharashtra government has also taken steps to upgrade this route to a national highway, designating it as NH-753F.
