The Mumbai-Pune Missing Link, an engineering marvel designed to shave 30 minutes off the treacherous Khandala Ghat climb, officially opened its scenic stretches, and travellers threw a party on it.
A video
originally posted by Instagram handle @aartistic_nari and shared by X user Harshit Baranwal has gone viral, showing dozens of cars lined up on the shoulder of the high-speed corridor. The “picnic spot vibes” were in full swing, with families stepping out of vehicles to snap selfies and marvel at the cable-stayed bridge and surrounding greenery.
“A Missing Link to Civic Sense”
While the infrastructure is world-class, the internet is debating whether the public’s “civic sense” is still under construction. “Mumbai-Pune Missing Link? Na na na… Civic Sense missing link!” one user quipped. Another added, “There is a missing link to civic sense 🙌.”
“Don’t ask anymore why we still have the tag of ‘The Developing Nation’ for years,” sighed a frustrated commenter, pointing out that what is a normal transit route in other countries becomes a spectacle here. One user suggested the government should lean into the madness: “Demonising gawkers is silly. Run with it. Create a viewing deck and charge ₹2500 for a 15-minute ticket.”
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The “Atal Setu” Syndrome
If this feels like déjà vu, it’s because it is. When the Atal Setu (MTHL) opened, social media was flooded with images of people climbing the fences to take photos, treating the sea link like a seaside promenade. However, some defenders argue this is just a rite of passage for a nation “driven by emotion rather than process.” One user noted: “The initial excitement is totally normal! We saw the exact same curiosity on the Atal Setu right after launch, and it settled down within a month. People are simply marveling at world-class infrastructure.”
Earlier it was on Atal Setu, now it’s on Missing Link. Proper picnic spot vibes indeed!
And none of these folks will be penalized. 😶
(Video taken from Insta handle named @aartistic_nari) pic.twitter.com/6FFUZP72Jo
— Harshit Baranwal (@dtrancemaniac) May 1, 2026
Beyond the viral reels, the Missing Link project is a massive feat of Indian engineering. It includes the world’s widest tunnels (over 21 meters), bridges that soar 100 meters above the valley floor and a significant reduction in travel time between Mumbai and Pune, bypassing the landslide-prone “Ghat” section.
