Bengaluru set to get closer to Pune: New expressway to cut travel time to just 5 hours

Bengaluru to benefit from a major infrastructure push as Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announces an extended Mumbai-Pune-Bengaluru corridor aimed at transforming intercity travel.

Travel between Bengaluru and Pune is set for a dramatic shift, with the journey time expected to shrink to just five hours, thanks to a major highway expansion initiative announced by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The project, which involves the construction of a new Mumbai-Pune highway, will eventually be extended all the way to Bengaluru, creating a high-speed corridor that will connect three of India’s major economic hubs-Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru.

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According to Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, the highway will originate from the Atal Tunnel in Mumbai, connect to the upcoming Pune Ring Road, and continue down towards Bengaluru. The aim is to significantly reduce current travel times, enhance trade connectivity, and ease intercity logistics for industries operating across Maharashtra and Karnataka.

The government has committed ₹50,000 crore for road and highway works in Pune district alone, with a broader ₹2 lakh crore infrastructure plan already in motion. Alongside the highway expansion, the region is also set to benefit from elevated roads and metro development, a move likely to decongest city traffic and support regional growth.

For Bengaluru, this improved connectivity opens up opportunities for faster freight movement, boosted business ties, and improved travel experience for regular commuters between the cities.

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