The Mumbai–Pune Expressway “Missing Link” project is a 13.3-kilometre bypass that has been designed to ease congestion and improve safety on the corridor that connects the two cities. It will help travellers
in bypassing the steep, accident-prone 19-km Khandala Ghat.
The massive Rs 6,695-crore infrastructure project aims to eliminate the traffic bottleneck, where 10 lanes of traffic, including expressway and old highway, currently merge into just six lanes.
Recently, digital creator Aakash Bhavsar shared multiple videos of the ‘Missing Link’ project on Instagram, highlighting its key features.
In the beginning, Bhavsar said he was standing in “Asia’s widest tunnel” that is part of the Mumbai-Pune ‘Missing Link’ project. He added that it is one of the safest tunnels in the country.
“Tunnels are not just about speed. They are about safety, science and precision engineering. Mumbai–Pune Missing Link tunnels are designed with world-class safety systems to protect every traveller, every second,” read the caption.
‘Missing Link’ Project: What To Expect?
This includes two massive twin tunnels allowing the expressway to cut through the Sahyadri mountains rather than climbing and descending steep slopes.
The first tunnel is nearly 1.6 to 1.75 km long and is situated near the Khopoli exit. The other one, about 8.9 km long, is said to be the widest and longest highway tunnel around the world.
Each of them has four to five lanes in each direction (a total of 8-10 lanes), making them roughly 23 metres wide.
Emergency Evacuation & Advance Safety Measures
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has installed cross-passages at every 300 metres for emergency evacuation. Also, the tunnels have high-tech ventilation, lighting, and fire suppression systems.
There are direct communication lines to connect with the central control room for rapid incident response.
Another engineering component of the project is a 650-metre-long bridge that is being built across the Tiger Valley in the Lonavala-Khandala section. This features four diamond-shaped pylons rising 182 metres high. It will be the tallest road pylons in India, surpassing the Bandra–Worli Sea Link.
Moreover, it includes additional viaducts, one approximately 900 metres long, as well as minor bridges to navigate the deep valleys.
As of now, the project is said to be nearly 95% to 98% completed, while MSRDC has a target to inaugurate the stretch on May 1, coinciding with the Maharashtra Day celebrations. Once operational, this will save 25 to 30 minutes of travel time between Mumbai and Pune.
