Pune: Holiday Rush Triggers 10-km Traffic Jam on Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Hours-Long Delays for Commuters
Pune, May 1: A massive traffic jam spanning 8 to 10 kilometers has brought the Mumbai-Pune Expressway to a near standstill today, as thousands of holidaymakers hit the road for Maharashtra Day, Labour Day, and the start of the summer holidays. The worst congestion has been reported between Khandala Ghat and Khalapur, with some stretches from Khandala Ghat to Khopoli also facing severe delays.
@NHAI_Official huge traffic at Mumbai-Pune expressway. Please look into this! pic.twitter.com/VRDe2EZd7o
— Aabhisshek S (@Toofankadevtaaa) May 1, 2025
With government and semi-government offices closed for Maharashtra Day, Labour Day and schools shut for the summer vacation, families seized the opportunity to travel to popular tourist destinations. However, the sudden surge in traffic led to long queues of vehicles and significant travel delays, with commuters taking hours to cover distances that usually require just a few minutes.
It's insane that @MSRDCLtd @MahaPolice randomly stop entire downhill traffic on Pune Mumbai Expressway to prioritise uphill traffic whenever they feel like it 🙄 Pay exorbitant toll and waste hours stopped.@CMOMaharashtra how is this justified? pic.twitter.com/8ahczh4I4D
— Karan Desai (@somecloudguy) May 1, 2025
Many frustrated travelers have seen their plans thrown into disarray, stuck for hours in slow-moving traffic. Authorities are currently working to ease the congestion, urging motorists to stay updated via Google Maps and to consider alternative routes if possible.
Long weekend traffic on the Mumbai Pune E way pic.twitter.com/qtuY0caXGK
— Intrepid Mumbaikar|मुंबईचा वाटाड्या| イントレピッド ムンバイカ (@bhataktakavi) May 1, 2025
The combination of public holidays and school breaks has created an overwhelming load on the expressway infrastructure, turning routine journeys into marathon drives.
