The new Missing Link is a 13.3-km bypass between Khopoli and Kusgaon. It allows vehicles to avoid the busy Lonavala-Khandala ghat section, which often sees heavy traffic and long delays.
Officials say the new route will cut travel time by around 30 minutes and shorten the journey by nearly six kilometres. It includes two twin tunnels measuring 1.68 km and 8.87 km, along with a 650-metre cable-stayed bridge built at a height of 182 metres.
The Mumbai-Pune Expressway currently handles around 1.5 lakh vehicles every day. With the opening of the Missing Link, traffic is expected to increase further as more private vehicles choose the faster route.
MSRDC officials also expect vehicle movement to rise after operations at the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport expand in the coming years.
To prepare for this growing traffic, authorities have planned a 10-lane expansion of the existing expressway. Officials believe widening the road is necessary to ensure smooth movement across the entire stretch and avoid fresh congestion points.
A proposal has already been prepared to acquire nearly 100 hectares of land for the widening project.
According to officials, the expansion is expected to cost over Rs 5,000 crore. Work on the project is likely to begin after the monsoon and may take around five years to complete.
The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, which opened in 2000, was built to reduce travel time on the old Mumbai-Pune highway that passed through difficult hilly terrain and saw growing traffic pressure.
Over the years, vehicle numbers have increased sharply, especially in narrow sections near Khandala, where congestion and landslides often create bottlenecks.
With the opening of the Missing Link and future road widening plans, commuters travelling between Mumbai and Pune can expect better connectivity and smoother journeys in the years ahead.
read more at mumbaipune.co.in
