Mumbai To Pune Minus Ghats? Missing Link Project To Cut Travel Time By 25 Minutes; Details Inside

The much-anticipated ₹6695 crore Mumbai-Pune Expressway missing link is finally nearing completion. Featuring India’s tallest cable-stayed bridge and two of the world’s widest tunnels, the project not only promises to save motorists up to 25 minutes of travel time but will also make the overall commute a lot smoother. 

Mumbai-Pune Missing Link Project Will Cut Down Travel Time By 25 Min

The Mumbai-Pune Expressway’s missing link project has been long anticipated. As per a report in Mid-day, the project is now expected to be completed by December. Estimated at ₹6,695 crore, this stretch will help vehicles bypass the Lonavla-Khandala ghat section, cutting travel time by nearly 25 minutes. For the uninitiated, this project includes India’s tallest high-cable stayed bridge, which stands at 170 metres. The construction work has been progressing rapidly, and the tunnel work is nearly done. The two tunnels measure 1.75 km and 8.92 km in length and are about 23 metres wide, making them among the widest tunnels in the world.

Also Read: Dwarka Expressway Tunnel Trials Begin: Daily 3-Hour Tests Aim To Ease Delhi-Gurugram Traffic

Project To Be Completed By December 

According to Mid-day, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Anilkumar Gaikwad said the work on the missing link is progressing at a fast pace. Authorities expect to complete the project by December this year, after which the stretch will be opened to the public. He also mentioned the project has been quite challenging, with a bridge height equal to a 45-storey building.

Construction on the missing link began in early 2017 and was initially set to open in March 2024. However, it was delayed due to certain reasons. With the work now almost complete, the new stretch will reduce the distance from about 20 km to 13 km between the Khopoli exit and Sinhgad Institute of Technology in Lonavala. The expressway is also being widened beyond the Pune end of the Khalapur toll plaza. This will allow motorists to travel via the bridge and tunnel at a much faster speed and more smoothly. 

Also Read: Gurugram To Vadodara In 10 Hours! All About Delhi-Mumbai Expressway’s Kota Tunnel Stretch

Once complete, the missing link will allow faster travel on the expressway, especially during the monsoon when traffic usually slows down due to jams and congestion. Now, commuters can expect a smoother and shorter journey between Mumbai and Pune. 

Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/ Kaushal Karkhanis and MSRDC/ Website