Mumbai-Pune Expressway to Get Divider Openings Every 2.5 KM for Emergency Exits to Avoid Traffic Nightmares
The harrowing 32-hour gridlock on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway that left over 1.25 lakh commuters stranded earlier this month has finally forced a major infrastructure overhaul.
In a decisive move to prevent future “highway hostage” situations, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and the State Highway Police have greenlit a plan to install wider median openings at intervals of 2 to 2.5 km along the treacherous 14-km Bhor Ghat stretch.
Learning from the 32-Hour Propylene Crisis
The policy shift comes as a direct response to the chaos triggered on February 3, 2026, when a tanker carrying 21 metric tonnes of highly inflammable propylene gas overturned near the Adoshi Tunnel. For nearly two days, the Expressway was transformed into a “parking lot” as authorities were forced to halt all traffic due to explosion risks.
“The lack of adequate divider cuts made it impossible to divert vehicles to the opposite carriageway or the Old Highway quickly,” stated Highway Traffic Police Authorities. Currently, the 14-km ghat section has only four openings, two of which are too narrow for heavy vehicles to maneuver, creating massive bottlenecks during emergencies.
The New Emergency Blueprint
The MSRDC’s new strategy focuses on high-speed diversion and localized expertise. Key pillars of the plan include:
- Frequent Median Openings: New, wider cuts every 2.5 km will allow police to perform “U-turns” for stranded vehicles, moving them to the safe side of the highway within minutes of an accident.
- Wider Access Points: Existing narrow openings will be widened to accommodate trucks and buses, ensuring that heavy vehicle breakdowns don’t paralyze the entire corridor.
- In-house Hazmat Experts: To avoid the 12-hour delays seen while waiting for private chemical experts from BPCL or NGOs, the MSRDC and IRB Infrastructure plan to station dedicated hazardous material technicians on-site.
- Visual Indicators: Median cuts will be marked with distinct colors, allowing heavy-duty cranes to identify and reach diversion points faster during low-visibility conditions.
Long-term Relief: The Missing Link
While the median openings offer an immediate “safety valve,” authorities are pinning long-term hopes on the 13.3-km “Missing Link” project. Expected to be operational by May 2026, this bypass will allow regular commuters to avoid the accident-prone Khandala Ghat entirely, though hazardous cargo will continue to be routed through the existing path under stricter supervision.
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde has already ordered a high-level probe into the response lapses of the recent crisis, emphasizing that traveler safety and basic amenities, which were severely lacking during the February jam, must be prioritized.
