For decades, the Khambatki Ghat stretch on the Pune-Satara highway was known as a test of patience and courage. Narrow lanes, sharp ‘S’ curves, long traffic jams and frequent accidents made the journey stressful, especially during weekends and holiday traffic. What should have been a short drive often stretched into an exhausting wait inside congested tunnels.

Today, that story is changing.

The New Khambatki Ghat Twin Tube 6-Lane Tunnel Project, undertaken by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on NH-4 (New NH-48), is transforming one of Maharashtra’s most challenging highway sections into a symbol of modern, people-first infrastructure.

As part of trial operations and safety assessments, one side of the twin tunnel has been opened to the public for testing purposes, allowing commuters to experience the improved infrastructure firsthand.

With physical progress of the project reaching 86 percent, the tunnel is on track for inauguration in the first half of 2026.

One commuter, travelling regularly through the ghat, notices the difference the moment he enters the new tunnel.

“There are more reflectors, better lighting, CCTV cameras, visible safety guard railings and proper fire extinguisher points. Compared to the old tunnel, this one is much wider and clearly designed with safety in mind.”

Another regular traveller, moving from Satara to Pune, recalls the daily struggle on the old route.

“Earlier, the old tunnel had only two lanes. Because of that, traffic used to pile up. If a car or truck broke down, there would be a long jam and a serious risk of accidents. The old tunnel route used to take around 15-20 minutes. Now, because of this new tunnel, it takes just 5–10 minutes.”

What was once a bottleneck has now become one of the fastest and smoothest stretches on the highway.

For two local women from the nearby village, who travel daily between Khandala and Satara, the tunnel has changed everyday life.

“This new tunnel feels very good and very safe for travelling. In the old tunnel, travel time was longer and the risk of accidents was much higher. We travel daily, so we are saving a lot of time now. The lighting inside the tunnel is excellent, which makes it feel safe. Earlier, darkness was a big issue but not anymore.”

Why This Tunnel Matters
The existing Khambatki Ghat stretch is a critical link on the Mumbai–Pune–Bengaluru corridor, connecting major cities like Pune, Satara, Kolhapur and Belgaum, while also serving thousands of tourists heading to Panchgani, Mahabaleshwar, Kas Plateau, and devotees visiting Sajjangad.

However, the old infrastructure had reached its limits:
• A 0.85 km two-lane tunnel in one direction
• An 8 km ghat road in the opposite direction
• Sharp curves, steep terrain and frequent congestion
• High accident risk and heavy fuel and time losses

The new tunnel addresses all of this at once.

Engineering Safety, Speed and Scale
With the construction of the new six-lane twin tunnel (three lanes in each tube), travel between Pune and Satara is being revolutionised:
• Travel time reduced
• Accident risk significantly reduced
• Fuel consumption and vehicle maintenance costs will come down
• Reduced vehicle wear and tear
• Better connectivity for local commuters, trade and tourism

A Safer Passage Through the Ghats
The New Khambatki Ghat twin tube tunnel stands as proof that when infrastructure is designed around human experience, it does more than move vehicles. It removes fear, returns time, saves lives and restores trust in the journey itself.

 

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GDH/DS

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