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The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is set to deliberate on widening the 90-km Vadpe Gonde section of the Mumbai Nashik highway to six lanes. The move follows concerns raised about road safety, congestion and rising accidents on the corridor. While repair work has been completed and the stretch is currently motorable, authorities will assess future traffic demand, especially with the parallel Samruddhi Expressway operational. NHAI is also progressing with an eight-lane elevated corridor between Nashik Phata and Khed to ease congestion ahead of the upcoming Kumbh Mela.
The National Highways Authority of India is preparing to examine a proposal to widen the 90-kilometre Vadpe-Gonde stretch of the Mumbai-Nashik highway from four to six lanes. The review comes after concerns were raised about the condition of highways in Maharashtra, particularly this corridor, which has seen frequent complaints of potholes, congestion and accidents over the past year. Advertisement
The issue had been highlighted nearly eight months ago by the late Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, who had written to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways seeking urgent intervention. In that communication, it was conveyed that despite regular toll collection, several key highways including the Mumbai-Nashik and Pune-Nashik routes were in poor condition and required widening and structural improvements to prevent further accidents.
Officials have now indicated that the six-laning proposal will be examined in detail. They have stated that any expansion must take into account the presence of the Samruddhi Expressway, which runs parallel to parts of this route and has already diverted a section of long-distance traffic. Traffic density, future growth projections and cost feasibility will be studied before a final decision is taken.
Routine repair and maintenance work on the Vadpe-Gonde stretch has already been completed, and authorities have said that the road is currently in a stable and usable condition. However, increasing local traffic, industrial movement and intercity travel continue to put pressure on the corridor, which connects Mumbai, Thane district and Nashik a major industrial and agricultural hub.
In parallel, NHAI is moving ahead with a separate infrastructure upgrade a 30-kilometre, eight-lane elevated corridor between Nashik Phata and Khed. The bidding process for this project has begun, and land acquisition is at an advanced stage. The corridor is expected to be completed within 36 months once work begins. The elevated road is planned to ease congestion near Nashik city and improve entry and exit traffic flow.
Traffic management has gained additional importance in view of the upcoming Kumbh Mela in Nashik in 2027, which is expected to draw a significant number of pilgrims and vehicles. Authorities are aligning highway improvement plans with anticipated traffic requirements during the event period.
The Mumbai-Nashik highway has historically been one of Maharashtra's key transport links, supporting industrial freight, agricultural produce movement and daily commuter traffic. Past expansion works have improved connectivity, but rising vehicle volumes continue to test existing capacity. The current review by NHAI will determine whether full six-laning is justified or whether traffic diversion to the expressway will be sufficient to manage demand.
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