Kalyan–Latur Expressway Approved: Malshej Ghat Tunnel to Power 4-Hour Mumbai–Marathwada Link

The proposed Kalyan–Latur Expressway is set to sharply cut road travel time between the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Marathwada, with officials targeting a four-hour journey instead of the current 10–11 hours between Kalyan/Thane and Latur. The project will create a high-speed link expected to support trade, daily travel and long-distance movement across central Maharashtra.

The corridor will run for about 442 km, of which roughly 400 km will form the direct Kalyan–Latur link. Beyond Latur, the alignment will stretch towards the Maharashtra–Karnataka border, giving road users from both states faster access to Mumbai’s wider region and key urban centres along the way.

Kalyan–Latur Expressway approval and planning progress

The long-discussed project advanced during a review meeting in Nagpur, where Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis granted in-principle approval. With this nod, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation will now prepare a detailed project proposal and send it to the state government for final cabinet clearance.

Once the cabinet signs off, work on the Detailed Project Report is expected to begin. Officials estimate that preparing the DPR, securing all approvals and finishing initial groundwork may need around 12 to 18 months. Only after that stage will full-scale construction activity start on the ground.

Kalyan–Latur Expressway route, design and cost

Early plans show the expressway starting in Kalyan, then heading through Malshej Ghat before reaching Ahmednagar, Beed, Manjarsumba and Ambajogai, and finally Latur. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation has described this route as important for faster connectivity, regional development and economic growth across these districts and nearby areas.

One of the most challenging parts of the project is planned in the Malshej Ghat section, where engineers have proposed an 8-km-long tunnel. The new corridor will also link with the upcoming Virar–Alibaug Multi-Modal Corridor, which should give smoother access for commuters and freight operators travelling from Mumbai and surrounding towns towards Marathwada and beyond.

The Kalyan–Latur Expressway forms a key part of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation’s larger roadmap to build 4,217 km of high-capacity road corridors across the state. The current cost estimate is about Rs 35,000 crore, though officials have said the final figure will be confirmed only after the Detailed Project Report is completed.

With in-principle approval now in place, the Kalyan–Latur Expressway is moving from concept to planning stage. Authorities see it as a major road scheme for Maharashtra, aimed at offering quicker, safer and more reliable movement between the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Marathwada and the Maharashtra–Karnataka border once construction is complete.