Mumbai-Pune Expressway's Mumbai-bound exit to be shut for 6 months
What's the story
The Mumbai-bound exit on the Yashwantrao Chavan Mumbai-Pune Expressway in Panvel will remain closed for six months from February 11.
The exit will remain closed as a new flyover and an underpass are being constructed at Kalamboli Circle as part of the Kalamboli Junction improvement project by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).
Navi Mumbai Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Tirupati Kakade issued the closure order under the Motor Vehicles Act.
Traffic diversion
Closure to impact all vehicles, alternate routes provided
The closure will impact all vehicles, light and heavy transport, going toward Panvel, Mumbra, and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust.
To lessen the impact of this closure on commuters, alternate routes have been given.
Vehicles going toward Panvel, Goa, and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust will be diverted at Konphata to NH-48 via Palaspe Circle.
Those traveling from Pune to Mumbai and headed toward Taloja, Kalyan, and Shilphata should take a route via Roadpali and NH-48.
Expressway overview
Mumbai-Pune Expressway: India's 1st 6-lane expressway
India's first six-lane, fully access-controlled expressway, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, stretches over 94.5km and cuts down travel time between the two cities to about two to 2.5 hours.
Inaugurated in 2002, it avoids the congested old Mumbai-Pune Highway (NH-48) and is a key corridor for traffic going toward Bengaluru, Goa, and southern India.
The expressway has several tunnels and designated toll plazas with an 80km/h speed limit for cars.
Infrastructure development
Expansion projects underway to ease congestion
Due to rising vehicular traffic, expansion projects are underway on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. These include constructing additional lanes and bypasses to ease congestion.
The current closure for the construction of a new flyover and underpass at Kalamboli Circle is part of these efforts.
DCP Kakade has assured that "Once the project is completed, the issue of traffic congestion at Kalamboli Circle will be solved."