Mumbai: Commuters between Mumbai and Pune can soon look forward to smoother journeys, as the long-awaited ‘missing link’ road project in Lonavala nears
completion, according to media reports. The project, which will open to the public in the next few months, is expected to reduce travel time by around 25–30 minutes and shorten the distance by over six kilometres. The existing 19.8-kilometre section of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway from Khopoli to Sinhgad Institute in Kusgaon passes through Lonavala and often faces severe congestion, reported The Indian Express. Tourists and narrow roads have made the hill town section notorious for traffic jams, especially on weekends and during festive seasons. The missing link, which will cut this section to 13.3 km, aims to bypass the bottleneck and ease traffic flow. Also Read: Chilling Moments Before Mumbai BEST Bus Took That WRONG Reverse - VIDEO
Challenges and Developments
The project involved significant engineering challenges, including two tunnels of 8.9 km and 1.7 km, and two cable-stayed bridges measuring 840 metres and 650 metres. A senior officer from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) said, "The work on the tunnels was completed a few months ago. The toughest part was the viaduct connecting the two tunnels across a deep valley. That has now been completed, and only minor works remain," the media report added.
Emergency Lanes
The new road will feature four lanes and an emergency lane in each tunnel, making it one of the widest in Asia. The 650-metre bridge will also be among the tallest in India. Once operational, commuters using the route from Pune to South Mumbai could reduce their travel time from three hours to approximately 2.5 hours.Construction of the Rs 6,595-crore project began in 2019 and was initially expected to finish in 2022. However, work was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, difficult hilly terrain, and early monsoon rains. Despite these setbacks, MSRDC expects the project to be fully open to the public by March 2026.
Once completed, the missing link will not only save time but also reduce fuel consumption, making the Mumbai-Pune journey faster and more efficient for daily commuters and tourists alike.
