26 April,2026 07:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/Maharashtra CMO
The long-awaited 'missing link' project on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway is nearly complete and is scheduled to be inaugurated on May 1 by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday said the project will help decongest the ghat section and improve travel safety and efficiency on the busy corridor.
Shinde visited the project site to review the progress, stating that about 99 per cent of the work has been completed. He said only minor finishing works remain and officials have been instructed to complete them within the stipulated timeframe while maintaining quality standards.
The 10.5-km-long stretch includes two tunnels, a high viaduct, and a cable-stayed bridge rising approximately 182 metres above Tiger Valley. The tunnel, nearly 23.75 metres wide, is among the widest in the world.
Officials said the project was executed under challenging conditions, including heavy rainfall, strong winds reaching up to 70 km/h, and difficult terrain. A section of the alignment passes deep below Lonavala Lake, adding to the engineering complexity. The project has been implemented by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation.
Once operational, the Missing Link is expected to bypass the accident-prone curves of the ghat section and reduce travel time between Mumbai and Pune by 20 to 30 minutes. Authorities said the new alignment is likely to significantly improve safety, while also reducing fuel consumption and vehicular emissions.
The project will also shorten the overall distance on the expressway by around 6 km. In the initial phase, it will be open to cars and buses to help ease congestion on the existing ghat stretch.
Addressing concerns over toll charges, Shinde clarified that there will be no toll hike linked to the project. He also said that no increase is currently proposed at the Khalapur toll plaza.
The project, estimated to cost around Rs 6,700 crore, was approved in 2019 during Fadnavis's earlier tenure as chief minister. Officials noted that its completion marks a key milestone in enhancing the efficiency of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, India's first access-controlled highway.
Improved connectivity is also expected to benefit tourism, with easier access to destinations such as Lohagad Fort, Visapur Fort, and Karla Caves. Officials said the tunnel interiors have been designed with thematic elements inspired by regional heritage while ensuring durability.
Shinde said the government is working towards building a wider network of access-controlled roads across Maharashtra by integrating key infrastructure projects. These include the Samruddhi Mahamarg and the Vasai-Virar Multimodal Corridor, among others.
He added that such projects are expected to improve connectivity, support economic growth, and reduce travel time across the state.
Several public representatives, officials from MSRDC, and engineers associated with the project were present during the site inspection.
