Daijiworld Media Network – Pune

Pune, Oct 20: Traffic congestion on the Mumbai–Bengaluru National Highway is worsening day by day, causing major inconvenience to residents of Vadgaon Budruk, Narhe, Ambegaon Budruk and Warje areas. In response, the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Pune Municipal Corporation have initiated several measures to address the issue.

Currently, work is underway at a rapid pace to develop service roads on both sides of the Mutha River, connecting Vadgaon Budruk to Warje. According to Sanjay Kadam, Project Director at NHAI, construction of girders for the new bridges is in progress. The bridge on the right side of the river, heading towards Warje, is expected to be completed by December 2025, while the one on the left is likely to be ready by March 2026. Kadam added that the service road would be opened to traffic soon after completion.

The highway passing through Vadgaon Budruk, Narhe, Ambegaon Budruk and Warje has become a crucial route for daily commuters. However, due to the absence of continuous service roads, vehicles are forced to use the main highway, resulting in severe congestion. Once the service roads become operational, local residents will no longer need to access the main highway for short-distance travel, significantly easing traffic pressure.

Frequent traffic jams, especially during morning and evening hours, are also caused by the narrow bridge across the Mutha River leading to Warje. Taking note of the recurring congestion near the bridge, the MNS Transport Wing, led by Shivaji Mate, has demanded that NHAI expedite the bridge construction work.

Authorities have assured that the ongoing projects will help decongest the highway and improve traffic flow in the surrounding areas once completed.