Widening of 6.4km stretch of Nashik-Pune highway on cards

Nashik: The Dwarka-Datta Mandir stretch of the Nashik-Pune highway is set for a major overhaul, with authorities planning to widen the 6.4km corridor from six to 10 lanes to ease chronic traffic snarls ahead of the 2027 Kumbh Mela.The Rs 221-crore project, cleared by the Union ministry of road transport and highways, will be executed by the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC), with work expected to begin by the end of this month, and be completed within a year.NMC commissioner Manisha Khatri said the project is nearing execution readiness. "Almost 95% of the land is in possession, while 5% of the land is to be acquired against TDR for widening," she said, adding that work on the ground will commence shortly.At present, the corridor — one of the city's busiest — lacks basic infrastructure such as service roads and footpaths, making daily commuting hazardous for motorists and pedestrians alike. Under the new plan, the existing 25m road will be widened to 45m, with two-lane service roads (7.5m each) on both sides and 2.5m footpaths to improve pedestrian safety, the officials said.The stretch carries a heavy mix of intercity and local traffic, linking Nashik Road to the city and serving as a key route for vehicles headed towards Pune, Shirdi, and the Sinnar industrial belt. Congestion is further aggravated by dense commercial activity along the corridor.Daily commuters say the widening is long overdue. "This is one of the busiest routes in the city. I have to travel daily from Nashik Road to the city area, but it takes a lot of time due to heavy vehicular traffic. Most of the time, traffic gets jammed and it takes long to reach the destination. Hence, it is a positive development that the city stretch of the Nashik-Pune highway, from Dwarka to Datta Mandir Chowk, is being widened to 10 lanes. This will definitely help decongest traffic on this busy corridor," said Prashant Suryawanshi, a resident of Nashik Road.Officials said the upgraded corridor is expected to handle nearly double the current traffic volume, easing bottlenecks and significantly cutting travel time. The project is also critical in view of the anticipated influx of pilgrims during the Kumbh Mela, with the civic body planning close monitoring to ensure timely completion.Meanwhile, the NMC's public works department has floated a fresh tender for the widening and asphalting work. The last date for bid submission is June 1, bids will be opened on June 2, and a pre-bid meeting is scheduled for May 19.Civic officials said the project is not just a temporary fix for the Kumbh, ut a long-term upgrade to support Nashik's rapidly expanding urban traffic network.