Mumbai-Pune Expressway Jam Worsens: 12-km Gridlock Leaves Commuters Stranded Without Basic Amenities
PUNE – The Mumbai-Pune Expressway witnessed one of its worst traffic nightmares on Saturday, January 24, 2026, as a massive 12-kilometre-long bottleneck stretched from the Khalapur Toll Naka to the Amrutanjan Bridge. Commuters reported being stuck for several hours, with some sections of the highway coming to a complete standstill.
The congestion, primarily affecting the Pune-bound lanes, began early in the evening. Reports from commuters on the ground, including Goppal Sawaant and Anagha Nair, highlighted a grim situation in the Khandala Ghat section. Navigation services like Google Maps briefly indicated a virtual “closure” of traffic flow due to the severity of the delay, which exceeded 60 to 90 minutes beyond typical travel times.
Infrastructure Failure and Gender-Insensitive Planning
The gridlock has once again exposed a critical lack of emergency infrastructure on Maharashtra’s busiest arterial road. Commuters travelling with families expressed intense frustration over the absence of restroom facilities and relief centres during the prolonged standstill.
Anagha Nair, who departed from Nerul at 5:00 PM, reported that it took nearly three hours to cross the Khandala Ghat.
“Women and those travelling with infants faced considerable distress. While men and truck drivers could manage by the roadside, there were no safe, hygienic, or dignified alternatives for women,” Nair noted.
Respected, @nitin_gadkari @NHAI_Official @MORTHIndia @CMOMaharashtra @MSRDCLtd
— Anagha Nair (@anaghaanair) January 24, 2026
Date: 24th January 2026
I respectfully wish to bring to your kind attention a significant concern faced by commuters, particularly women, on the Yashwantrao Chavan Mumbai–Pune Expressway, specifi-
Despite the presence of truck lay-bys, the lack of functional comfort stations in congestion-prone zones like the Ghats highlights a significant gap in gender-sensitive infrastructure planning.
Authorities Unreachable?
Adding to the travellers’ woes, reports emerged that the MSRDC (Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation) helpline numbers were allegedly switched off or unresponsive during the peak of the crisis.
Google is far ahead , it has Virtually closed traffic between Pune to Mumbai on Mumbai Pune expressway😀😀 and also says there is no other alternate routes🙃😣 pic.twitter.com/FFHDeDiUyo
— Mumbai Pune Expressway (@Mumbai2PuneEway) January 24, 2026
With the Republic Day long weekend approaching, traffic volume is expected to remain high. Commuters are advised to check real-time updates and plan their journeys during off-peak hours to avoid getting trapped in the Ghat sections.
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