Synopsis: Three new underpasses have been approved on the Pune to Bengaluru Highway also known as NH-48.The project will be built in Punawale and Tathawade to reduce the traffic in those areas and the areas nearby it.
NHAI has got the green light to build 3 new box-structure underpasses, that will be shaped like boxes and will be built at Punawale and Tathawade in the western part of Pune. ₹70 to ₹80 crore rupees is the budget decided for this and the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has given his seal of approval. The purpose of this project is to make the travelling part easier for people who commute on this Highway as it is one of the busiest highways in the Pimpri-Chinchwad region.
A Connectivity Boost for Western Pune
Punawale and Tathawade are one of the few important areas in Pune that have seen the fastest growth in the last few years because they are close to IT Hubs and industries. West Pune had around 43 percent of all the new homes for sale and about 40 percent of all the homes that were sold in the city during the first half of 2025. People are moving to these areas and the roads are getting very crowded which is resulting in heavy traffic.
Why it matters for commutators
The new project will help reduce traffic at the crossings that are already there along the highway. People who travel between Punawale, Tathawade, Wakad, Ravet and Kiwale will have easier daily travel. The underpasses will also provide access to Hinjewadi, which is great news for IT professionals who commute to Hinjewadi.
The traffic issue has become more acute with rapid rise in residential growth in areas like Punawale, Tathawade, Wakad, Kiwale, Ravet and adjoining areas. A large number of IT professionals and daily commuters living on either side of the highway regularly facing road blocks at the existing underpasses, which have limited carrying capacity.
Areas That Could Benefit the Most
Pune
Punawale, Tathawade, Wakad, Kiwale, Ravet, the Hinjewadi IT Corridor, and the broader western growth corridor of Pimpri-Chinchwad are some areas that will get the biggest advantage from these new underpasses. Over the past few years these areas have witnessed quick housing and business development, which unfortunately lead to more traffic on NH-48. The underpasses can potentially improve the connectivity across the highway, reduce slow travel due to traffic at crossing points that already exist and make travelling easier for people to areas like Hinjewadi, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and central Pune. These areas also have seen a jump in property prices over the last five years. If we look at the numbers we can see that property prices have gone up by around 39% in Punawale 39.7% in Tathawade, 42.7% in Wakad, 27% in Kiwale, 22.9% in Ravet and 62.4% in Hinjawadi.
Bengaluru
While underpasses are being built in Pune, the project is part of the Pune-Bengaluru NH-48 corridor and this corridor is one of India’s major routes for economy and logistics. Better traffic flow and fewer bottlenecks in Pune’s suburbs will help people and goods move between Pune and Bengaluru. For Bengaluru this project is especially important for areas like Nelamangala and Peenya which’re major industrial and logistics hubs. It will also benefit employment areas like Yeshwanthpur, Rajajinagar, Electronic City and the Hosur Road corridor all connected through NH-48 and the NICE Road network. As more and more traffic moves between Pune and Bengaluru, upgrading infrastructure along NH-48 will make long-distance travel and goods transport more efficient. This will support Bengaluru’s manufacturing, logistics and technology sectors by improving supply-chain movement. The NH-48 corridor and underpasses will help Bengaluru’s economy grow by making it easier to transport goods and people.
Part of a Larger Infrastructure Push
The approval of the three underpasses is part of a bigger plan to make the Pune-Bengaluru NH-48 corridor better. Authorities are working on multiple projects to achieve this, these projects include making service roads, reducing traffic congestion, improving drainage and adding more crossings.The goal is to support the growth of homes and offices in western Pune, so upgrades, like these underpasses will help improve connectivity and support growth in the future.
Written by Shreya Tiwari
