The distance between Mumbai and Pune is 148 kilometres. Currently, it takes 2.5-3 hours to travel from Mumbai to Pune. The government has proposed three projects to cut this down even further. Furthermore, to enable seamless travel between the two cities. Plus, boost the economy and industrial development in the region. From a high-speed train service to a futuristic hyperloop. And other bypass roads on the current Mumbai-Pune Expressway. These projects will cut both distances, as well as travel time, are underway.
The ‘Missing Link’ Expressway Tunnel
Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation has initiated the newest project. It is a bypass on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway that will cut travel time by 20 minutes. This includes two the construction of two-eight-lane tunnels. Along with, two eight-lane viaducts that will reduce the distance between the two cities by six kilometres. That may not sound like much. But this tunnel will bypass the ghat section between Khopoli and Kusgaon. So, saving you at least 20 mins on a regular day and perhaps a little more at night when the ghats tend to get busy. This section may complete by September 2022.
Mumbai-Pune High-Speed Train
Since the 1930s, the Deccan Queen is a game-changer. It cut down travel between Mumbai to Pune to under four hours. Currently, the travel time on this train is three hours 10 mins. It remains a favoured choice for those who do the daily commute between these two cities.
In a further improvement, the government has proposed a high-speed bullet train. Maharashtra Railway Infrastructure Development Company proposed a new project (Maha-Rail). That includes a high-speed train service between Mumbai and Pune. It will cut the current travel time down by almost an hour.
Mumbai-Pune Hyperloop
Virgin-Hyperloop-One-Mumbai-Pune: The most ambitious of these projects, the Mumbai-Pune Hyperloop. It has the potential to reduce the travel time between the cities to a mere 25 minutes. Undoubtedly, it could change the demographics and urban make-up of both Mumbai and Pune. The Maharashtra government with various international firms are talking to execute the same. The superior mag-lev technology is weather agnostic. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions. However, this technology is yet to implement in the world and remains on the drawing board currently.
Conclusion
Twenty-five minutes may feel like a blink compared to how long it took to get between the two cities a few decades ago. These plans indeed have the potential. They can change how regular commuters navigate their work and time between these cities.
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