Mumbai-Pune Expressway ‘Missing Link’ To Open on May 1
Eknath Shinde says project to cut travel time, ease congestion
Mumbai: The much-awaited “Missing Link” project on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway will be inaugurated on 1st May, marking Maharashtra Day. The new route, which involves India’s tallest road cable-stayed bridge, is expected to cut travel time between Mumbai and Pune by around 30 minutes and ease traffic congestion.
Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, who inspected the project site, said that about 99 per cent of the work has been completed. The project will help decongest the Lonavala-Khandala ghat section and improve travel safety and efficiency on the busy corridor, he added.
Developed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) at a cost of Rs 6,695 crore, the 10.5-km-long stretch includes two tunnels, a high viaduct, and a cable-stayed bridge rising approximately 182 metres above Tiger Valley. The tunnel, nearly 23.75 metres wide, is among the widest in the world.
Mr Shinde said there will be no additional toll tax for it. “There will be no toll hike because of the missing link project. No increase has been proposed at the Khalapur toll plaza either,” he added.
Officials said the project was executed under challenging conditions, including heavy rainfall, strong winds reaching up to 70 km/h, and difficult terrain. A section of the alignment passes deep below Lonavala Lake, adding to the engineering complexity.
Once operational, the Missing Link is expected to bypass the accident-prone curves of the ghat section and reduce travel time between Mumbai and Pune by 20 to 30 minutes. Authorities said the new alignment is likely to significantly improve safety, while also reducing fuel consumption and vehicular emissions.
The project will also shorten the overall distance on the expressway by around 6 km. In the initial phase, it will be open to cars and buses to help ease congestion on the existing ghat stretch.
