The Central Government has approved the construction of a six-lane elevated corridor on National Highway 48 (NH-48) near Kolhapur, with a total estimated investment of ₹913 crore. The project aims to ease traffic congestion, improve connectivity and enhance freight and passenger movement in one of Maharashtra’s key economic corridors.
The elevated corridor will be developed on NH-48 to provide a grade-separated, signal-free route around the city, helping vehicles bypass urban bottlenecks and reduce travel times on a stretch that forms part of a major national highway linking Mumbai and Bengaluru. Authorities said the infrastructure upgrade is expected to bolster road safety, cut logistics costs and support regional economic activity in Kolhapur and surrounding districts.
The project approval follows detailed feasibility assessments and aligns with the government’s broader strategy of expanding high-capacity road and expressway networks across the country. Officials noted that the elevated design was chosen to minimise disruption to existing urban areas, reduce land acquisition challenges and maintain traffic flow during construction.
Work on the corridor will include the construction of elevated carriageways, interchanges, ramps and associated safety and service facilities, and is expected to be executed through an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract. The planning phase will be followed by detailed design, utility relocation, and phased implementation to ensure efficient progress with minimal disruption to commuters.
The corridor is expected to play a significant role in improving mobility for passenger vehicles as well as long-distance freight traffic that currently traverses NH-48, which is a crucial link in India’s national highway network connecting western and southern regions.
The elevated corridor project also complements other ongoing road infrastructure initiatives in the region, including capacity augmentation of existing highways and development of ancillary facilities to support logistics and industrial growth.
With central funding now in place, authorities will move forward with tendering and preparatory activities, marking a key step toward transforming movement and transport efficiency along one of Maharashtra’s busiest highway corridors.
