India, May 9 -- In a major infrastructure push, the Maharashtra government has approved a 134-km four-lane highway connecting Neral in Karjat to Shirur in Pune district. The proposed corridor is expected to serve as an alternative to the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and help reduce mounting traffic congestion on the heavily used route, officials said.

Announcing the decision on Friday, deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar said the new highway would provide faster, stronger and more modern connectivity not only between Mumbai and Pune, but also to Marathwada and Ahilyanagar regions.

"The proposed Neral-Shirur highway has been approved by the state government," Pawar said. "It will begin at Neral in Raigad district and connect to Shirur on the P...