The Ahilyanagar–Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar highway has deteriorated sharply, with a 42 kilometre stretch between Wadala and Ahilyanagar developing deep and widespread potholes that have made travel slow and unsafe. The damaged highway has disrupted regular weekend movement, forcing many commuters to divert via the Samruddhi Expressway, despite the longer distance and higher travel cost.
Daily commuters travelling between Pune and Sambhajinagar report driving speeds dropping below 30 kilometres per hour due to severe road damage, increasing travel time by several hours. Residents along the highway say repeated patchwork repairs have failed to address the core issue, while accidents and vehicle damage continue to rise. Although the Public Works Department has announced temporary repairs and approved resurfacing funds, commuters and villagers are demanding complete reconstruction to restore safety and reliability on this key Maharashtra highway.