Enhancing Connectivity: How Atal Setu Will Transform Travel Between Mumbai and Pune

By Lodha

A tale of two cities: Mumbai and Pune, are both within proximity and home to multinational companies, start-ups, and a growing population of working professionals and families. Whether you travel back and forth between the two cities for work or personal reasons, infrastructural projects in Mumbai are here to make your life easier. The Atal Setu, also known as the Sewri-Nhava Sheva Sea Link Highway, has made commuting between Mumbai and Pune quicker and more seamless. Additionally, expansions made to the sea bridge have enhanced connectivity between the two cities even more. If you are investing in premium projects in Mumbai or Pune, here is everything you need to know about the Atal Setu and its expansion so you can enjoy smooth and rapid commutes.

Atal Setu: A Revolutionary Sea Bridge

Atal Setu, also known as Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, is a 6-lane grade-separated expressway bridge stretching 21.8km. The longest sea bridge in India, it primarily connects Mumbai with Navi Mumbai. Atal Setu begins in Sewri in South Mumbai, crosses Thane Creek, and ends at Uran Taluka in Navi Mumbai. However, Mumbai’s new bridge project is also connected to the Coastal Road in the west and Mumbai-Pune Expressway in the east. Over time, the bridge is expected to connect to Goa in the north and regions of South India, too. Inaugurated in 2024, the bridge has reduced travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai to 20 minutes and will also quicken the journey between Mumbai and Pune.

How Will the Atal Setu Reduce the Distance Between Mumbai and Pune?

To expedite travel between Mumbai and Pune, the Atal Setu has been expanded to include a new expressway. This upcoming highway will connect the Atal Setu to Solapur and Satara via a direct road connection, further reducing travel time between Mumbai and Pune. Officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have stated that this new route will save travellers between the two cities 75 to 90 minutes, cutting down commute times considerably.

The extended highway will stretch across 130 km and link Atal Setu and JNPT (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust) to Pune, Satara, and Solapur via eight lanes. At present, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway is rampant with traffic and bumper-to-bumper lines of vehicles along the ghat sections. Congestion issues have worsened due to increased urbanisation and industrialisation along the route. While constructing a ‘missing lane’ near Lonavala is a solution to these concerns, it may not be enough in the long run. As the ‘missing lane’ nears completion, connecting Atal Setu to Solapur and Satara via the expressway could provide a more holistic solution.

There are also plans of creating another additional highway to link Atal Setu via a 14-lane road to Bengaluru, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and the Pune Ring Road. The proposed route will reduce traffic on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway by 50% and cut down travel time between the two cities.

As connectivity between the two cities increases, both Mumbai and Pune’s real estate market will be rife with opportunities for homebuyers and investors. At Lodha, one of the top builders in Mumbai, and Pune, we believe in staying ahead of the curve and building premium projects in locations that allow residents to leverage Mumbai’s infrastructure development and improve their quality of life. Along with our impeccably constructed luxury apartments in Mumbai at Lodha Evoq in the South and Lodha Bellagio in the North, we also have various projects in Pune. From the comfortable apartments in Lodha Massimo to luxe vacation homes in Lodha Belmondo, our Pune developments are expertly crafted by the top interior designers in India.