One Day After Grand Inauguration, Mumbai-Pune ‘Missing Link’ Plagued by Confusion, Partial Shutdown & Reckless Selfie Culture

While commuters heading to Pune saved precious time on the new corridor, the Mumbai-bound carriageway remained mysteriously closed, leading to chaos on the old ghat roads and raising questions about the project’s rushed inauguration.

MUMBAI/PUNE – It was meant to be a seamless solution to decades of traffic snarls. However, just hours after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputies inaugurated the much-anticipated 13.3-km ‘Missing Link’ on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on May 1, the project was thrown into chaos, operating under a confusing “partial” opening and sparking anger among commuters.

While the first day of May marked a historic milestone for Maharashtra’s infrastructure, featuring the world’s widest underground tunnel, the second day has been marked by frustration, bizarre “picnic” behavior, and a distinct lack of clarity from authorities.

Here is the current state of play regarding the three major issues plaguing the new route.

1. The ‘Missing’ Carriageway: Uncertainty and Conflicting Reports

The primary source of confusion is the Pune-to-Mumbai lane. Despite the grand ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Mumbai-bound arm of the Missing Link remains firmly shut.

According to reports from the Indian Express, while the Pune-bound arm was thrown open to traffic on Friday afternoon to ease the long weekend rush, the opposite carriageway was closed to allow for the dismantling of inauguration infrastructure, including stages and barricades. However, as of May 2, commuters report that the lane is still inaccessible.

Social media has been flooded with exasperated users. X user Aditya Gadgil highlighted the lack of signage, noting that a signboard at the connecting ramp on NH48 had the “left turn for expressway” struck out, leading to chaos. Another user, Karan Desai, reported asking police at the scene why the lane was closed, only to be told “Kaam baaki hai” (Work is pending).

@Mumbai2PuneEway @Dev_Fadnavis @NHAI_Official @mieknathshinde
1) Pune mumbai missing link is not operational 2day. No info/signs abt it & ghat had traffic jam
2)Signboard at connecting ramp 4 express way frm pune on NH48, has struck off “left turn for express way” causing chaos pic.twitter.com/Rw5a3HAYkX

— Aditya Gadgil (@adgadgil) May 2, 2026

Meanwhile, Marathi news outlets have confirmed that while the Mumbai-to-Pune route is operating smoothly, the Pune-to-Mumbai link will likely remain closed for another two to three days due to incomplete “small and big tasks”. Authorities have confirmed that the “missing link from Pune to Mumbai will open later,” forcing travelers to use the old, congested ghat section, negating the very purpose of the project.

“The ‘Missing Link’ is really missing!… If anyone knows where the police station is, please tell me, because I need to file a missing report for the ‘Missing Link’!” joked MNS leader Abhijit Panse, taking a sarcastic jibe at the situation.

“मिसिंग लिंक" खरोखरच मिसिंग आहे!
“कालच मोठ्या थाटामाटात उद्घाटन झालं आणि आज रस्ताच बंद ? घाट पुन्हा ट्रॅफिकच्या विळख्यात! कोणाला पोलीस स्टेशन माहित असेल तर सांगा, कारण मला 'मिसिंग लिंक'ची मिसिंग रिपोर्ट नोंदवायची आहे!”

महाराष्ट्र नवनिर्माण सेनेचे नेते श्री. अभिजीत पानसे यांचा… pic.twitter.com/motwaDZErn

— MNS Adhikrut – मनसे अधिकृत (@mnsadhikrut) May 2, 2026

2. The Picnic on the Asphalt: Selfies Over Safety

However, the humor wears thin when safety is at risk. Commuters like Akshay Shah have called out the “uncivilised people” who have started littering and treating the viaduct like a picnic spot, a phenomenon previously witnessed during the inauguration of the Atal Setu bridge. One user warned, “Wait till you see sweet corn and snacks wale stalls in the coming days”. Authorities are now under pressure to deploy CCTV cameras and police to prevent a major accident on this high-speed stretch.

Ironically, while officials closed the road for “work,” the open sections of the Missing Link, specifically the stunning cable-stayed bridge rising 182 meters above Tiger Valley, have devolved into a dangerous tourist trap.

Earlier it was on Atal Setu, now it’s on Missing Link. Proper picnic spot vibes indeed!

And none of these folks will be penalized. 😶

(Video taken from Insta handle named @aartistic_nari) pic.twitter.com/6FFUZP72Jo

— Harshit Baranwal (@dtrancemaniac) May 1, 2026

Videos circulating online show motorists coming to a complete halt on the high-speed corridor (speed limits of 80-100 kmph) to hop out and take selfies. What was designed as an engineering marvel to save time is being treated as a viewing gallery.

3. The Silver Lining: Speed, Savings, and Smooth Sailing

Despite the political embarrassment and the safety concerns, the reports coming from the operational lane are overwhelmingly positive. For those traveling from Mumbai to Pune, the dream has finally come true.

Smooth ride indeed. #MissingLink pic.twitter.com/yYd1eca4hQ

— Dr Uday S Kulkarni (@MulaMutha) May 2, 2026

Commuters report bypassing the infamous Khandala and Bor Ghat bottlenecks entirely. The new alignment, which cuts the distance by 6 km, is slashing travel times by roughly 20 to 30 minutes.

Mumbai Pune Expressway. pic.twitter.com/uuPhM5QcoX

— Ajit kumar (@connectajitcpr) May 2, 2026

“Harshit Baranwal” posted on X that he used the link to return to Pune yesterday evening, saving “almost 35 minutes”. Another user, Sushant, confirmed the link was open and functional during the morning commute. The reduction in sharp curves and steep gradients is providing a smoother, safer drive compared to the old, accident-prone route.

Furthermore, authorities have confirmed that there will be no additional toll for using this new infrastructure, although currently, only light motor vehicles and buses are permitted on the link, with heavy vehicles relegated to the old road for the next six months.

The Road Ahead

The inauguration of the ‘Missing Link’, which holds a Guinness World Record for the widest twin tunnel, is undeniably a leap forward for Indian infrastructure. However, the botched rollout highlights a gap between political showmanship and operational readiness.

For now, travelers heading from Pune to Mumbai must still endure the old ghats, while those heading from Mumbai to Pune can enjoy the thrill of the new. As for the authorities, they face a dual challenge: finishing the construction work on the closed lane and clearing the “selfie-seekers” off the open one.