Mumbai-Pune missing link bridge 99 per cent ready, set for May launch

The Mumbai-Pune missing link’s cable-stayed bridge, which is the tallest such structure in India. PICS/By Special Arrangement

The construction of the roadway of the Mumbai-Pune missing link's cable-stayed bridge has begun. Highly paced sources said that, if everything proceeds as planned, the ambitious project is likely to be opened to the public by May 1.

A Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation official said, "The crucial cable-stayed bridge has been completed by Afcons Infrastructure. Work on laying the bitumen road is currently underway. With 99 per cent of the project completed, finishing touches are now being carried out."

Soon, the load-bearing test on the bridge will be carried out. According to officials, this will help engineers to verify the structure's strength, stability, and overall safety under real-world conditions before it is opened to the public.

About the cable-stayed bridge

Package II, which includes the 650-metre-long, will feature India's tallest road cable-stayed bridge. Engineers are constructing 182-metre (597 feet) high pylons, taller than the 128-metre (413 feet) pylons of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.

The project at a glance

Bridge height: 132 metres (India's tallest road cable-stayed bridge)
Tallest pylon: 182 metres
Viaduct I length: 850 metres
Viaduct II (cable-stayed) length: 650 metres
Approach roads: 10.2 km

Project benefits

Reduces distance by 6 km
Cuts travel time by 25 minutes
Lowers fuel use and emissions
Offers safer, smoother, more fuel-efficient travel to over 1.5 lakh commuters daily

Other salient features

13.3 km
Length of Mumbai-Pune Expressway stretch between Khopoli exit and Kusgaon

19 km
Distance between Lonavala and Khopoli exit

1.68 km
Length of tunnel I

8.87 km
Length of tunnel II

23.50 m
Width of each tunnel

5.86 km
Length of expressway being widened as part of project

Rs 6695 crore
Cost of missing link