Mumbai-Pune Expressway ‘Missing Link’: Shiv Sena (UBT) Leader Milind Narvekar Urges 6-Month Ban on Heavy Vehicles

Mumbai/Pune – As the ambitious “Missing Link” project on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway nears its April 2026 completion deadline, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and MLC Milind Narvekar has raised significant safety concerns, urging the state government to restrict the new stretch to passenger vehicles only for the first six months.

In a formal letter addressed to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, Narvekar highlighted the technical complexities of the project. The “Missing Link,” designed to bypass the treacherous Khandala Ghat (Bhor Ghat), is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities by nearly 30 minutes and significantly decrease the accident rate.

Technical Risks and Safety First

Narvekar, who serves as a member of the Public Undertakings Committee, emphasized that the project spans a geographically challenging zone. He pointed out that the high wind pressure in the deep valleys of Bhor Ghat, combined with heavy fog and monsoon conditions, poses a unique risk to motorists.

“The project is technically challenging. Given the weather patterns and wind velocity in the valley, we must not rush to open the route to all traffic without exhaustive technical testing,” Narvekar stated.

Proposed Restrictions

To ensure public safety during the initial phase, the legislator proposed a “passenger-only” trial period. His key demands include:

• Six-Month Trial: Only light passenger vehicles should be allowed on the Missing Link for the first half-year to monitor road stability and safety.
• Heavy Vehicle Ban: Large trucks and heavy transport vehicles should continue using the existing ghat section during this experimental phase.
• Permanent Ban on Hazardous Cargo: Narvekar has strongly advocated for a permanent ban on any vehicles carrying fuel, chemicals, or flammable materials through the new stretch to prevent catastrophic accidents in the tunnel sections.

The project, which features the world’s widest tunnels and one of the highest cable-stayed bridges in the country, is currently in its final stages of construction. While the state government aims to throw the link open to the public by April 2026, Narvekar’s intervention suggests that a cautious, phased rollout may be necessary to navigate the region’s notorious terrain.

The state government is yet to issue a formal response to the proposal.