Mumbai-Pune Expressway Faces Gridlock as Holi Weekend Approaches; Commuters Decry ‘Daily Nightmare’

PUNE: The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, once the pride of Maharashtra’s infrastructure, has increasingly become a source of frustration for thousands of commuters. On Friday, February 27, 2026, the arterial road witnessed yet another day of massive traffic snarls, particularly in the critical Ghat sections, leaving travelers stranded for hours.

The timing of these disruptions is particularly concerning as the Holi long weekend approaches (with the festival falling on March 3–4). Authorities and frequent travelers warn that without immediate intervention, the upcoming holiday rush could bring the expressway to a total standstill.

Commuters Share Ordeals on Social Media

Since the early hours of Friday morning, social media has been flooded with real-time updates from distressed motorists.

• Extended Delays: Commuters reported jams lasting anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes starting as early as 4:00 AM.
• Ghat Section Bottlenecks: Most of the congestion is concentrated on the Pune-bound carriageway, specifically across the Khandala and Lonavala Ghat stretches.
• Mismanagement Allegations: Dr. Ashwani Kumar, a regular commuter, highlighted a “visible mismanagement” of heavy vehicles over the last 10 days, questioning the lack of truck regulation during peak hours despite the steep ₹320 toll tax.
• “No More an Expressway”: Frustrated users like Sweta and Tejas Ghorpade noted that Google Maps showed delays of over two hours to clear small patches, with some calling the route a “daily nightmare.”

The “Missing Link” and Future Relief

While the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has recently announced a ₹5.16 crore toll refund for motorists stuck in a massive 33-hour jam earlier this month, the relief does little to solve the current daily gridlock.

Work on the “Missing Link” project, which aims to bypass the treacherous Ghat section via Asia’s widest tunnels and a massive cable-stayed bridge, is reportedly 98% complete. However, with an inauguration date set for May 1, 2026, commuters must still endure the current bottlenecks for at least two more months.

Advisory for Holi Travelers

With the weekend starting and Holi festivities just days away, traffic police have advised motorists to:

1. Check Live Updates: Use navigation apps and official highway police handles before starting the journey.
2. Travel During Off-Peak Hours: Avoid late evenings and early mornings when heavy vehicle movement is at its peak.
3. Consider Alternate Routes: While the Old Mumbai-Pune Highway (NH-48) is an option, it often gets choked simultaneously during major jams.

As the “lifeline” between Maharashtra’s two largest cities continues to falter, the calls for stricter lane discipline and heavy vehicle regulation grow louder.