Massive Traffic Jam on Pune-Mumbai Expressway Causes Hours-Long Delays
Pune-Mumbai Expressway witnessed severe traffic congestion on Sunday, leaving thousands of commuters stranded for hours. The chaos was triggered by a surge in weekend travelers and monsoon tourists visiting the scenic Western Ghats near Lonavala, exacerbating the already heavy traffic flow.
What Caused the Traffic Chaos?
The Pune-bound corridor came to a standstill as vehicles piled up, with similar congestion reported on the Mumbai-bound side. Social media users expressed frustration over long delays at toll plazas, questioning the effectiveness of FASTag and traffic management systems.
One commuter tweeted, “Traffic jams on Mumbai-Pune Expressway and serpentine queues at toll points, in spite of rules stating otherwise. Are we ever going to have respite?” Another complained, “Long jam at Pune-Mumbai Expressway’s first toll (Talegaon). Still, toll not being free to clear traffic.”
@NHAI_Official long jam at pune Mumbai expressway first toll Talegaon
— Bharatiya (@triggeredcitizn) May 25, 2025
Still toll not being free to clear traffic pic.twitter.com/rsz90NAImZ
@AjitPawarSpeaks @Dev_Fadnavis @nitin_gadkari @PuneCityTraffic @PuneCityPolice @CPPuneCity@PuneTimesOnline
— Shravan M (@Shravan089) May 25, 2025
Been stuck in traffic at mumbai pune expressway toll for more than 1 hour, some politician's convoy given priority, when more then 500 vehicles are stuck, is this fair??? pic.twitter.com/mziRf5W4py
@Devendra_Office @OfficeOfNG
— PAH 909 (@909pah) May 25, 2025
Traffic Jams on Mumbai-Pune expressway and serpentine queues at Toll points, inspite of rules and law stating otherwise. There is no end to this suffering. Are we ever going to have some respite as tax paying citizens?
Mumbai-Pune Expressway: A Critical Yet Congested Route
The Mumbai-Pune Expressway is a crucial link between Mumbai, Pune, Satara, Sangli, and Kolhapur, also serving popular tourist destinations like Lonavala and Mahabaleshwar. However, during weekends and holidays, traffic volumes often exceed capacity, leading to recurring jams.
Safety Concerns Amid Congestion
The congestion comes a day after a tragic accident near Khopoli claimed the lives of two women when their car was crushed between a bus and a trailer. While the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) has helped reduce accidents on the expressway, officials highlight that 11 fatalities were still recorded between January and April 2024. In comparison, the Samruddhi Expressway reported 55 deaths in the same period.
