01 May,2026 02:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Traffic on Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Friday afternoon. Pic/Satej Shinde
Traffic snarls was reported on Friday at the Yashwantrao Chavan Mumbai-Pune Expressway as motorists headed out of Mumbai for the long weekend.
Motorists stated that there was slow-moving traffic was particularly observed in the ghat section between Khopoli and Lonavala. The affected area was near the Khopoli exit in Khalapur taluka of Raigad district.
Vehicles were seen moving at a very slow pace, leading to long queues and delays for travellers.
The traffic on Pune-bound direction at the ghat section was moving at a very slow pace for more than an hour, a traveller said on Friday afternoon. Sources said that on the way some car breakdowns were also seen along the route adding to traffic snarls.
The inauguration of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link also triggered massive traffic disruptions, leaving hundreds of commuters stranded for hours and sparking widespread frustration. Long queues of vehicles were seen stretching across key stretches as movement came to a near standstill during the event.
Many motorists said traffic was halted for over two to three hours to facilitate the launch, disrupting travel plans at the start of a long weekend. Several questioned the decision, suggesting that the inauguration could have been conducted virtually instead of bringing traffic to a halt on one of the state's busiest highways.
As soon as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was informed about the traffic situation, instructions were issued to let vehicles pass without collecting toll to ease congestion.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also apologised to commuters for the inconvenience caused due to traffic disruptions during the event. Acknowledging the delays and long wait faced by motorists, he said the situation was regrettable and assured that such issues would be better managed in the future, even as he emphasised the long-term benefits of the Missing Link project in easing congestion on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
The traffic build-up was mainly due to a surge in vehicles leaving Mumbai as people travelled to nearby destinations for the extended weekend.
Popular hill stations and tourist spots including Lonavala were likely to witness increased inflow, adding to the congestion.
The ghat section of the expressway is known for sharp turns and steep gradients, which often slow down traffic during peak travel periods.
