Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link to Reduce Travel Time by 30 Min; Project 96% Complete, Set for September 2025 Opening
The highly anticipated Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link project is nearing completion, with 96% of the work already done, according to officials from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). The new deadline for the inauguration has now been set for September 2025.
The Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link is a critical infrastructure development aimed at significantly improving connectivity between the two cities. The Rs 6,600-crore project has faced multiple deadline extensions — initially targeted for March 2024, later pushed to January 2025, then March 2025, and now finally to September 2025.
The 13km stretch of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link will reduce the distance between Mumbai and Pune by 5.7km and cut travel time by about 30 minutes. Once operational, vehicles will be able to maintain speeds of up to 120kmph, offering a faster and safer journey.
While the tunnels and the first viaduct are already completed, construction of the second viaduct continues. Officials highlight that this portion, spanning over a valley near Lonavala, poses major engineering challenges, particularly with the monsoon season approaching. The cable-stayed bridge, part of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link, rises 180 meters above the Khandala Valley, making it one of the most ambitious engineering feats in the region.
“We are focusing on completing the work safely without affecting regular traffic flow,” an MSRDC official stated. To facilitate ongoing construction, the completed viaduct and tunnel are being used for site access.
The missing link includes an 840m viaduct, a 1.75km tunnel, a 650m cable-stayed bridge above Tiger Valley, and an additional 8.9km tunnel that runs as deep as 170 feet below Lonavala lake. Apart from improving travel times, the project is also focused on enhancing road safety. One of the key goals is to transform the Mumbai-Pune Expressway into a “zero-fatality corridor” by eliminating traffic bottlenecks and preventing accidents, especially those caused by falling debris during the monsoon.
Despite the project’s complexities, MSRDC officials proudly note that construction activities have been carried out without disrupting traffic on the current Mumbai-Pune Expressway, one of India’s busiest highways.
The Missing Link stands as a testament to engineering prowess and is set to become a game-changer for commuters once completed in September 2025.
