National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) accelerating infrastructure projects on Pune-Bengaluru National Highway following Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari's inspection of Khambatki Ghat and Navale Bridge areas.

Planned improvements:

• Five to six flyovers at key congestion points including Khandala, Shirwal and other major zones
• Detailed Project Report (DPR) worth ₹6,000 crore being prepared
• Western bypass project between Pune and Satara under consideration
• Proposed 140-km new route to divert heavy vehicles from main highway
• Black spot removal and multi-level flyover infrastructure improvements

Currently Pune-Satara highway experiences increasing traffic from growing vehicle numbers, heavy transport movement and frequent bottlenecks. Once completed, proposed works could reduce Pune-Satara distance travel time to approximately one hour.

The Pune-Satara Road Bus Rapid Transit corridor is being removed to make way for the Swargate-Katraj underground Metro project. Work has begun, with Shahu Colony-Natubaug BRT Station dismantled. Metro tunnels will be constructed directly beneath the main road; existing BRT stations occupy critical space needed for underground stations and entry-exit points.

The upcoming Metro stretch will include five stations: Market Yard, Bibwewadi, Padmavati, Balaji Nagar, and Katraj. Among these, Bibwewadi, Padmavati, and Balaji Nagar fall along the current BRT corridor, so at least three BRT stations will be removed in phases to reduce commuter inconvenience.

Additional Commissioner of Police (East) Manoj Patil said that once Metro work picks up pace, a large portion of Satara Road will be taken over for construction, with traffic planning adjusted accordingly.

The Satara Road corridor is currently the only functional BRT stretch left in Pune. Several BRT routes have already been scrapped: Swargate–Hadapsar route and Yerwada–Wagholi (Aaple Ghar) corridor. Fresh demands exist to remove the BRT route between Deccan College and Vishrantwadi.

Some BRT sections on Satara Road will remain operational at Panchami, Bhapkar Petrol Pump (City Pride), Shankar Maharaj Math, and Bharati Vidyapeeth. Running BRT services in disconnected segments is expected to be difficult for drivers and confusing for passengers. The Metro project is targeted for completion by December 2029.

Kolhapur collector Amol Yedge held a meeting at the collectorate to review progress of six-laning works on Pune-Bengaluru National Highway at Kagal-Satara stretch and Ratnagiri-Kolhapur National Highway 166 and National Highway 48 projects. Delays have increased travel time by nearly two hours. Frequent traffic congestions occur due to road diversions through pothole-filled stretches. Public representatives pressed for toll waiver until road works complete. Meeting attended by NHAI project director S S Kadam, manager Govind Bairwa, deputy collector Archana Nashte, technical consultants and contractors. Collector expressed displeasure and ordered administrative action against those responsible for delays. NHAI officials instructed to complete Ratnagiri-Nagpur highway work in Kolhapur district before next monsoon season.

Reliance Infrastructure to sell Pune-Satara toll road project to Cube Highways in a ₹2,000 crore deal for 100% stake acquisition in PS Toll Road Pvt. Ltd. Reliance Infra aims to monetise non-core assets and enhance financial flexibility. ₹600 crore of funds will be deployed for future growth initiatives in core business areas. ₹1,400 crore of consolidated debt to be reduced. Transaction expected to complete by end of August 2025, subject to regulatory approvals. This is the second transaction between the two companies; Reliance Infra sold Delhi-Agra toll road to Cube Highways for ₹3,000 crore in 2020.

Reliance Infrastructure Ltd has decided to monetise its Pune Satara Toll Road (PSTR) project to focus on core operations. Cube Highways and Infrastructure III Pte Ltd., a Singapore-based company, has agreed to acquire 100% stake in PS Toll Road Pvt. Ltd., the special purpose vehicle operating the project. Enterprise value: ₹2,000 crore. Reliance Infrastructure expected equity proceeds: ₹600 crore. Consolidated debt reduction: ₹1,400 crore. PS Toll Road Pvt. Ltd. developed, operates, and maintains a 140-kilometre six-lane expressway between Pune and Satara in Maharashtra, along National Highway NH-48. Built under Build-Operate-Transfer (Toll) model as part of the Golden Quadrilateral, enhancing connectivity between Mumbai and Bengaluru. Toll collection commenced October 2010. Transaction expected to complete by end of August 2025, subject to regulatory approvals. This marks the second toll road deal between Reliance Infrastructure and Cube Highways; in 2020 Reliance sold its Delhi-Agra Toll Road to Cube Highways for ₹3,600 crore. Reliance Infrastructure currently operates 7 toll road assets totalling approximately 2,468 lane kilometres.