Mumbai Pune Expressway: The passengers traveling on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway have finally got the good news they wanted. The much awaited missing link project on the Mumbai Pune Expressway will be operational from May 1, 2026. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has planned to open this route for commuters from May 1. This new route will save passengers time and also relieve passengers from the hassle of driving through the ghats.
In February 2026, the collapse of a 21,000 kg gas tanker in the Ghat section caused a traffic jam of about 20 km length and for almost 32 hours. After this incident, the need for the missing link was once again highlighted. If you come towards Mumbai then the missing link starts from Khopoli exit and this missing link ends at Sinhagad Institute Kusgaon. Due to the missing link project on the Mumbai-Pune highway, passengers will be able to avoid the Lonavala Khandala Ghat. This is a big relief for Mumbai-Pune commuters who have been suffering from frequent traffic jams, accidents and weekend rush at Khandala Ghat (Mumbai Pune Expressway).
The Mumbai Pune Missing Link will reduce the travel distance by about six kilometers and save at least 25-30 minutes especially during rush hours. An important part of this project is its tunneling work. The main tunnel in this project is about 8.87 kilometers long, while the second tunnel is approximately 1.67 kilometers long.
In the initial phase only light vehicles will have access to the missing link. Tankers and heavy vehicles carrying flammable materials will not be allowed to enter for the first six months. This decision has been taken as a precautionary measure, giving priority to the safety of passengers. A decision on heavy vehicles will be taken only after studying the experiences of the initial six months.
Various vehicles will be tested on the Mumbai Pune Missing Link in the month of April. At this time, road safety, efficiency of tunnels and preparedness of traffic management will be checked. MSRDC plans to inaugurate this highway on May 1 after this. However, if some technical works remain incomplete till then, this inauguration can be postponed a little further.
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