Mumbai–Pune Expressway Set to Open May 1 as ‘Missing Link’ Hits 98% Completion.

The long-delayed “missing link” on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway is now 98 per cent complete, with the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) targeting an inauguration on May 1, coinciding with Maharashtra Day.

Senior MSRDC officials confirmed on Tuesday that the April 30 deadline for civil works remains unchanged. Responding to a starred question in the legislative assembly last Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stated in a written reply that the revised timeline would be met. He attributed the earlier December delay to geographical and technical challenges but emphasized that the project is now in its final stages. Shinde added that traffic will be allowed only after all safety standards and load tests are completed.

MSRDC officials reiterated that there will be no further extensions. “As of March 3, only about 2 per cent of the work remains. The Pune-bound corridor is already complete, and only six metres are pending on the Mumbai-bound side,” an official said. Trial runs and final safety clearances are scheduled for late April.

The urgency of the project was highlighted by a major accident in early February, when a tanker carrying highly inflammable propylene gas overturned near Khopoli, causing a 32-hour traffic suspension. The incident resulted in 20-km-long queues and left thousands of commuters stranded without food or water, prompting renewed calls to expedite the missing link to provide a safer alternative route.

The Rs 6,695-crore project, connecting Khopoli to Kusgaon, bypasses the steep, winding Khandala-Lonavala ghat section, a chronic bottleneck. By shortening the existing 19.8-km stretch by over 6 km, the link is expected to cut travel time between Mumbai and Pune by 25–30 minutes.

The corridor begins with a 900-metre viaduct at Khopoli, rising about 60 metres above ground, followed by a 1.64-km tunnel. It then crosses Tiger Valley via a 650-metre cable-stayed bridge supported by two 180-metre pylons, India’s tallest road cable-stayed bridge, executed by Afcons Infrastructure Ltd. The alignment then enters a nearly 9-km tunnel, emerging at Kusgaon on the Pune side. The new four-lane corridor adds an extra lane compared to the existing ghat stretch.

Highway authorities expect a significant shift in traffic patterns once the missing link opens. “Light motor vehicles, which make up a large share of expressway traffic, are expected to move to the new alignment,” said a highway police official. “Commuters from Pune to Mumbai will likely benefit the most, as they will no longer be stuck behind heavy trucks on uphill ghat stretches.”

Beyond daily commuting, the missing link will also serve as a vital diversion during emergencies, offering a high-speed alternative to the old Mumbai–Pune highway.