India, March 2 -- The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has completed the fifth and one of the most crucial phases of the Shri Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi route, widening the 54.5-kilometre stretch between Dive Ghat and Lonand to six lanes. The upgraded corridor is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion, enhance road safety and cut travel time by nearly 50 per cent, offering major relief to Warkaris and daily commuters.

The project involved an expenditure of approximately Rs.580 crore for construction and Rs.1,700 crore for land acquisition. Over the past three years, this stretch has completely transformed. Earlier, the road was four-laned and heavily congested, particularly at bottlenecks such as Dive Ghat, Sas...