Snapshot
Nitin Gadkari said the tunnel is going to enhance connectivity and most importantly, provide direct benefits to the commuters.
The new six-lane tunnel at Khambatki Ghat on Pune-Satara Highway (NH-4) is a twin tunnel with three lanes each and currently under construction.
In a series of tweets, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said the existing ‘S’ curve in Satara-Pune direction shall be completed soon, which would lead to drastic reduction in accident risks.
The total capital cost for the 6.43 km long project is approximately Rs 926 crore and is expected to be completed by March 2023.
Gadkari said our country is witnessing unprecedented infrastructural transformation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and unfolding ‘Prosperity Through Connectivity’.
He said new India demands world-class infrastructure.
Gadkari said the tunnel is going to enhance connectivity and most importantly, provide direct benefits to the commuters through their value over time (VOT) and value over cost (VOC) savings.
The minister said average travel time at Pune-Satara and Satara-Pune stretch through Khambatki Ghat is 45 minutes and 10-15 minutes respectively. With the completion of this tunnel, average travel time shall be reduced to 5-10 minutes.