‘Indian Engineering’ Takes Centre Stage as Maharashtra Opens World’s Widest Underground Tunnel on Mumbai-Pune Expressway
LONAVALA, May 1: In a landmark moment for Indian infrastructure, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Ajit Pawar, formally inaugurated the ‘Missing Link’ project on the Yashwantrao Chavan Mumbai-Pune Expressway today, Maharashtra Day, receiving an official Guinness World Records certificate for the world’s widest underground tunnel.
Measuring an astonishing 22.33 metres in width, the tunnel is part of a 13.3 km high-speed corridor that replaces a treacherous 19.8 km winding stretch through the Khandala Gha, long regarded as the expressway’s most dangerous bottleneck since the road opened in 2002.
“Forget German Engineering or Chinese Engineering, it’s time to talk about Indian Engineering,” Fadnavis said at the inauguration, standing alongside Union ministers, local MPs, and senior officials. The ceremony also included the unveiling of a stone plaque.
Engineering Marvel Carved Through Sahyadri Rock
The ₹7,500 crore project, sanctioned and awarded during Fadnavis’s earlier tenure in 2017-18, delivers two massive tunnels, one 1.75 km and another 8.9 km, with the longer tunnel passing 180 metres beneath Lonavala Lake. Connecting them is India’s tallest cable-stayed bridge, soaring 180 metres (approx. 590 feet) above the valley floor.
Watch the Viral Dashcam Video of the Tunnel:
History made on #MaharashtraDay! 🚩
— PuneNow (@itspunenow) May 1, 2026
CM @Dev_Fadnavis & leadership team inaugurate the Mumbai-Pune ‘Missing Link.’
✅ Guinness World Record: World’s widest tunnel (22.33m)
✅ India’s highest cable-stayed bridge (180m)
✅ Saves 30-45 mins
✅ No extra toll!
Indian engineering at… pic.twitter.com/bLmhSvCeyP
By eliminating the steep inclines and notorious S-curves of the old ghat, the new link permits a consistent speed of 120 km/h, significantly improving safety while cutting travel time by 30 to 45 minutes, with no additional toll.
Key Features of the Missing Link Project
- World’s Widest Underground Tunnel – Guinness World Record for width of 22.33 metres (nearly 24 metres), making it the widest road tunnel in Asia.
- Two Massive Tunnels – Lengths of 1.75 km and 8.9 km; the longer tunnel runs 180 metres beneath Lonavala Lake.
- India’s Tallest Cable-Stayed Bridge – Stands 180 metres (590 feet) above the valley floor, connecting the two tunnel sections.
- Shorter & Faster Route – Reduces distance from 19.8 km of winding ghat roads to a 13.3 km high-speed corridor.
- Consistent Speed of 120 km/h – Eliminates steep inclines and dangerous S-curves, bypassing major accident hotspots.
- Travel Time Savings – Saves 30–45 minutes per trip compared to the old route.
- No Additional Toll – Commuters can use the new link without paying any extra charge.
- Fuel Savings & Environmental Benefits – Reduced idling and shorter distance lead to lower fuel consumption and emissions.
- Enhanced Safety – Straightens the most hazardous, accident-prone Khandala Ghat section of the original 2002 expressway.
- Engineered Through Hard Rock – Carved through the Sahyadri mountain range, showcasing Indian engineering capabilities.
‘Quantum Corridor’ for Economic Growth
NCP MP Sunil Tatkare, recalling childhood journeys through Khopoli with stops at Ramakant Hotel for vada and prayers at Shivarkar temple, noted: “Despite decades of progress, traffic remained a major issue. Today, this project is being dedicated to the public by Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Vahini Pawar.”
Officials say fuel savings and reduced emissions will deliver environmental benefits, while faster connectivity between Mumbai and Pune, the state’s twin growth engines, will accelerate commerce and decongest the original expressway.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Missing Link is a 13.3 km high-speed corridor that replaces a treacherous 19.8 km winding stretch through the Khandala Ghat. It includes two massive tunnels (one 8.9 km long) and India’s tallest cable-stayed bridge, designed to provide a straighter, faster, and safer route between Mumbai and Pune.
The underground tunnel within the project measures 22.33 metres in width, making it the world’s widest road tunnel. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputies officially received the Guinness World Records certificate at the inauguration ceremony.
Drivers using the new Missing Link will save approximately 30 to 45 minutes per trip compared to the old ghat section, thanks to the removal of steep inclines and dangerous S-curves, allowing a consistent speed of 120 km/h.
No. There is no extra toll for using the Missing Link. Commuters can enjoy the faster, safer route without any additional charges beyond the existing expressway toll.
The project was sanctioned and awarded by current Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during his 2017-18 tenure. It was inaugurated on May 1 (Maharashtra Day) and opened to the public on the same day.
A Gift on Maharashtra Day
Fadnavis praised Maharashtra’s public agencies, MSRDC and MMRDA, for delivering what he called “a tribute to the vision and can-do spirit of the Marathi Manoos.”
With the Missing Link now open, the 30-year wait for a straight, safe, and swift passage through the Sahyadri is finally over. As one official put it: “This isn’t just a road. It’s Maharashtra’s new Quantum Corridor.”
