By Kavita Mistry 
In a major boost to infrastructure, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has announced a new expressway project connecting Mumbai to Bengaluru in just six hours. Part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana initiative, this ambitious ₹40,000 crore project will feature a 14-lane, access-controlled greenfield expressway.
Massive Reduction in Travel Time
The journey between Mumbai and Bengaluru, which currently takes around 18 hours, will be reduced to just six hours upon completion. Similarly, Pune to Bengaluru travel time is expected to drop to about four to five hours, dramatically improving commuter and cargo movement across these economic hubs.
Route Details and Key Features
The expressway will span nearly 700 km and pass through 12 districts in Maharashtra and Karnataka. In Maharashtra, it will begin at Kanjale on the Pune Ring Road and traverse Pune, Satara, and Sangli. In Karnataka, it will run through Belagavi, Bagalkot, Gadag, Koppal, Vijayanagar, Davanagere, Chitradurga, Tumakuru, and Bengaluru Rural.
Key features include:
- 22 interchanges
- 55 flyovers
- Two emergency airstrips
- Speed limit: 120 km/h
- Dedicated access for high-speed vehicles
The expressway will also connect with the under-construction Pune-Bengaluru Expressway via the Pune Ring Road, ensuring seamless travel across the region.
Economic and Regional Impact
By reducing the distance between Pune and Bengaluru by about 95 km, the new highway is expected to fuel trade, logistics, and inter-city mobility. The expressway will particularly benefit IT and commercial sectors in both Maharashtra and Karnataka, contributing to regional economic expansion.
Concerns Over Project Timelines and Quality
While this project promises a major leap in connectivity, concerns remain about timely execution and construction quality. Delays and substandard work have plagued several past projects. The Union Minister recently fined a contractor ₹50 lakh for poor performance on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.
Officials have assured strict oversight by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), with measures in place to blacklist underperforming contractors and ensure optimal fund utilization.