Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link to Bypass Ghats, Save 25 Minutes Travel Time – To Open by December 2025
Mumbai, June 2025 – The highly anticipated Mumbai-Pune Expressway missing link project, worth ₹6,695 crore, is on track for completion by December 2025, significantly reducing travel time between the two cities by 20-25 minutes. The project, which includes one of India’s tallest cable-stayed bridges and two of the world’s widest tunnels, will allow motorists to bypass the congested Lonavala-Khandala ghat section, especially during monsoon.
Key Features of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link
1. World-Class Infrastructure
Two Massive Tunnels (1.75 km and 8.92 km long, 23 metres wide) – Among the widest tunnels globally, equipped with emergency cross-passages every 300 metres.
170-Metre Cable-Stayed Bridge – Equivalent to a 45-storey building, this engineering marvel will facilitate smooth traffic flow.
Direct Route Below Lonavala Lake – The tunnels will run 150 metres beneath the lake, ensuring an uninterrupted commute.
2. Travel Time & Distance Reduction
Currently, the 19-km stretch from Khopoli exit to Sinhgad Institute of Technology, Lonavla, will be shortened to 13 km, easing congestion and improving safety.
3. Enhanced Safety & Traffic Management
- Emergency Cross-Connections – Tunnels interlinked every 300 metres for quick evacuation.
- Widened Expressway – Expansion near Khalapur toll plaza to accommodate increased traffic.
Project Timeline & Challenges
Initiated in 2017, the project was initially slated for completion in March 2024 but faced delays. Anilkumar Gaikwad, Vice-Chairman & MD of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), confirmed that construction is progressing swiftly, with the cable-stayed bridge being the most complex aspect.
Impact on Mumbai-Pune Commute
The 94-km Mumbai-Pune Expressway, a six-lane cement concrete road, and NH-4 (111 km, four-lane bituminous) currently merge near Khalapur toll plaza, leading to bottlenecks. The missing link will divert heavy traffic, reducing accidents caused by speeding and landslides in the ghats.
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Key Benefits:
✔ 25-minute time savings
✔ Bypass monsoon congestion
✔ Safer, smoother travel
✔ Reduced landslide risks
With just six months left, the Mumbai-Pune missing link is set to revolutionize intercity travel, marking a new milestone in India’s infrastructure development.
