Mumbai-Pune expressway ‘missing link’ to open on May 1, to reduce travel time by 30 min

The much-awaited Missing Link stretch on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway is set to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Maharashtra day that is on  May 1, this will mark a major upgrade for one of India’s busiest inter-city routes.

This  13.3-km missing link is a newly built section on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway that connects Khopoli on the Mumbai side of Kusgaon near Lonavala. This has been designed to bypass the old Khandala ghat stretch, which is a winding and congestion-prone route that has long slowed down traffic and posed safety risks.

This new alignment will reportedly reduce the travel time between Pune and Mumbai by at least 30 minutes. During peak hours or holiday rush, the time savings could be even higher. This also includes a 650-metre cable- stayed bridge constructed over Tiger Valley, rising more than 180 metres high, and it is among the tallest road bridges in India.

As per reports, only light motor vehicles and buses will be permitted on the new stretch to reduce congestion on the existing ghat section and heavy goods vehicles will be prohibited due to safety concerns. Additionally, there will be no toll hike because of this project and no increase has been proposed at the Khalapur toll plaza.

The route is said to pass beneath the Lonavala lake region and was carried out under challenging conditions, including heavy rainfall and strong winds. Projects like the missing link are reportedly expected to improve connectivity to popular tourist spots such as Lohagad Fort, Visapur Fort, and Karla Caves.