Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link Project Delayed to August 2025
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The much-anticipated missing link project on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway has been delayed once again, with a revised completion deadline of August 2025. Originally slated for March 2024, the ₹6,695 crore Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway (YCEW) project has faced repeated setbacks, attributed to the challenging construction of a cable-stayed bridge near Lonavala.
Progress Update
According to Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Anilkumar Gaikwad, 92% of the project has been completed. “We have finished 12.4 km of the 13 km missing link project. The remaining work involves constructing four pylons, each 180 meters tall, for the cable-stayed bridge at Tiger Valley,” he stated after a recent review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The project, divided into two phases, includes the construction of two tunnels and two viaducts. While tunneling work is complete, the viaducts, which span 790 meters and 650 meters, have posed challenges due to high wind pressures at an altitude of nearly 100 meters.
Benefits of the Project
Once operational, the missing link will significantly ease traffic congestion by bypassing the ghat section between Adoshi Tunnel and Khandala exit. It will shorten the route by over 6 km, saving motorists approximately 25 minutes of travel time. The new link is expected to handle 85% of the expressway’s current traffic, reducing strain on the existing route.
Daily commuters, however, have expressed frustration over the delays, especially during holiday seasons when traffic jams on the expressway often stretch for kilometers.
Toll Extension and Budget Assurance
Officials have assured that funds for the project are secure, and construction is progressing cautiously to avoid any incidents, given the terrain’s complexity. While toll rates will remain unchanged, motorists will face an additional 15 years of toll payments beyond the original 2030 contract period.
Expressway Expansion Still Awaiting Approval
Meanwhile, the MSRDC’s proposal to expand the expressway from six to eight lanes remains stuck in limbo. Submitted last year, the ₹6,000 crore project requires administrative approval. The plan involves adding one lane on each side to address growing traffic congestion, requiring around 100 hectares of land. Land acquisition alone is expected to cost ₹800 crore, with the entire project estimated to take three years once approved.
With the missing link nearing completion and expansion plans on the horizon, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway is poised for transformation, promising a smoother and faster commute for motorists in the years to come.
