Authorities have approved a major expansion project for the heavily congested Dwarka–Datta Mandir stretch of the Nashik–Pune highway, with plans to widen the corridor to 10 lanes ahead of the 2027 Simhastha Kumbh Mela.
The project will cover a key urban stretch of approximately 6.4 kilometres between Dwarka Circle and Datta Mandir in Nashik Road, one of the city’s busiest transport corridors that regularly witnesses severe traffic congestion due to rising vehicular movement and commercial activity. The widening initiative is aimed at improving traffic flow and strengthening urban mobility infrastructure before the massive influx of pilgrims expected during the Kumbh Mela.
According to reports, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has cleared the project, which is expected to cost around ₹221 crore to ₹258 crore depending on the revised scope and associated infrastructure works. The project will be implemented by the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) in coordination with highway authorities.
Officials stated that the widened highway will feature a 45-metre-wide road corridor with five lanes on each side, along with service roads, footpaths, and improved traffic infrastructure aimed at reducing bottlenecks along the route. The upgraded stretch is expected to significantly ease congestion at major traffic pressure points including Dwarka Junction, Kathe Galli, Upnagar, Fame Signal, and Datta Mandir.
The Dwarka junction area remains one of Nashik’s most critical traffic choke points as the Mumbai–Agra highway intersects with the Nashik–Pune route at the location. Heavy passenger movement, freight traffic, and increasing urbanisation have placed considerable pressure on the existing road infrastructure. Authorities believe the 10-lane expansion will provide long-term traffic relief while supporting the city’s growing transportation requirements.
Officials indicated that nearly 95 per cent of the land required for the project has already been secured, while the remaining land acquisition process is expected to be completed through Transferable Development Rights (TDR) mechanisms. Tenders for the project have already been floated, and the bidding process is expected to conclude shortly. Construction activity is likely to begin in the coming months with a targeted completion timeline before the 2027 Kumbh Mela.
The highway widening project forms part of a broader infrastructure development push being undertaken in Nashik ahead of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela. Multiple projects linked to road expansion, river rejuvenation, sewage treatment, traffic management, and urban mobility are currently being accelerated across the city to prepare for the large-scale religious gathering.
Alongside the road expansion, authorities have also initiated anti-encroachment drives and planning for grade separators, underpasses, and supporting mobility infrastructure to streamline traffic movement in key urban zones connected to pilgrimage routes and Nashik Road railway station.
The 2027 Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela is expected to attract millions of devotees from across India and abroad, making transport connectivity and crowd management a major priority for both state and central authorities.