As part of trial operations and safety assessments, one tube of the tunnel has been opened to traffic, significantly reducing travel time through the ghat section from 15–20 minutes to about 5–10 minutes. The new tunnel replaces the earlier bottleneck comprising a narrow two-lane tunnel and an 8 km ghat road with sharp curves and high accident risk.
Designed with modern safety features such as improved lighting, CCTV surveillance, reflectors, guard railings and fire safety systems, the tunnel enhances both safety and driving comfort. The project is expected to ease congestion, reduce accidents, lower fuel consumption and improve connectivity on the busy Mumbai–Pune–Bengaluru corridor.
Once fully operational, the Khambatki Ghat twin tunnel will provide seamless movement between Pune and Satara, benefiting daily commuters, freight movement and tourism in the region.
