Landslide and waterlogging bring Mumbai-Pune routes to a crawl

Traffic piles up near Kalamboli after a landslide near the Missing Link forced the temporary closure of the Pune-bound carriageway of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Monday. Pic/By Special Arrangement

On Monday morning, a landslide near the Missing Link forced the temporary closure of the Pune-bound carriageway of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Traffic was stopped at the Kalamboli McDonald's Junction, triggering long queues that stretched up to the Sion-Panvel Highway. Waterlogging at several locations on the old Mumbai-Pune Highway further worsened congestion, forcing many commuters to abandon or postpone their plans.

What happened?

>> Landslide near the Missing Link
>> Pune-bound carriageway temporarily closed
>> Vehicles stopped at Kalamboli McDonald's Junction
>> Traffic backed up till the Sion-Panvel Highway
>> Waterlogging on the old Mumbai-Pune Highway added to delays

Before you travel to Pune

Authorities have advised motorists to:
>> Avoid non-essential travel until the situation normalises
>> Check the latest traffic updates before leaving
>> Follow police diversions and instructions on the highway
>> Expect delays if travelling via the old Mumbai-Pune Highway due to waterlogging

What authorities said

Rahul Khade, DCP (Traffic)
"We are requesting people travelling towards Pune to postpone their trip as a precautionary measure"

Highway SP Tirupati Kakde
>> Traffic congestion from Kalamboli towards Pune has been cleared
>> Pune-bound carriageway at Missing Link remains closed
>> Restoration work is underway
>> Traffic will resume after the stretch is declared safe

Traffic Officer Pandurang Sathe
>> Police personnel have been deployed at key junctions
>> Traffic is being regulated and diverted where necessary
>> Motorists have been advised to check traffic updates before starting their journey

Voices from the road

Sunny Pandey, a Navi Mumbai-based sales professional
"I had an important client meeting in Wakad that had been scheduled days in advance. But after police stopped vehicles and appealed to people to postpone non-essential travel, I decided to turn back. Missing one meeting is better than putting my life at risk."

Dheeraj Singh, travelling to Pune to meet his elderly parents
"I was disappointed because I hadn't seen my parents for weeks. But when I saw long traffic lines and heard about the landslide, I realised nature is beyond anyone's control. I was thankful the authorities chose safety first."

Suraj Kutty a social acitivist
"The incident was reminder of how quickly monsoon can disrupt travel. "You can plan your entire day, but one spell of heavy rain changes everything. I was frustrated initially, but after seeing visuals I understood why the police took the decision."