The four-laning of the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi routes across Pune, Satara and Solapur districts has reached the final stage, with the National Highways Authority of India planning to make both corridors fully operational by the end of December.
The two projects are being implemented in nine separate stages to improve travel for the lakhs of pilgrims who use the routes each year to travel towards Pandharpur. The completed corridors are also expected to strengthen road connectivity for agricultural produce movement and industries in the three districts.
The Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi route runs for 234 kilometres between Hadapsar and Wakhari. Work has been completed on 225 kilometres of the corridor, which has been divided into six packages. Four sections—Dive Ghat to Lonand, Dharmpuri to Khudus, Khudus to Wakhari and Wakhari to Mohol—have been completed.
The remaining work is concentrated in two sections. Around six kilometres is still pending on the 13.35-kilometre Hadapsar-Dive Ghat stretch, while one kilometre remains on the 49.4-kilometre Lonand-Dharmpuri section. The project is estimated to cost Rs 3,154 crore.
The Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi route extends for 130 kilometres from Patus to Tondle, with 123 kilometres of work completed. Its three major sections include the completed 41.3-kilometre Patus-Baramati stretch, the 42.1-kilometre Baramati-Indapur section and the 46.7-kilometre Indapur-Tondle section.
Approximately six kilometres of the Baramati-Indapur section and one kilometre of the Indapur-Tondle section remain under construction. The project has an estimated cost of Rs 1,824 crore.
Abhijit Aute, superintendent engineer at NHAI, said the work on both routes was in its final stage and targeted for completion by December. According to Aute, the upgraded roads will make travel to Pandharpur safer, easier and more comfortable for pilgrims, while stronger connectivity will support agricultural and industrial activity in the region.
The projects are being monitored across multiple construction packages because the routes pass through several districts and connect important pilgrimage, agricultural and commercial locations. Once the remaining stretches are completed, the two corridors are planned to operate at full capacity by the end of December.
