Maharashtra has strengthened its key transport corridor with the commissioning of the 13.3-km ‘Missing Link’ stretch on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, inaugurated by Devendra Fadnavis. The new alignment is designed to bypass the steep and congestion-prone ghat section, improving safety and ensuring smoother traffic movement between the two cities.
The corridor connects Khopoli to Kusgaon near Lonavala, forming a fully access-controlled route and reducing reliance on the accident-prone mountain pass. The development is part of a larger 19.16-km upgrade, which also includes the widening of a key stretch between Khalapur and Khopoli interchange.
Developed by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation at a cost of Rs 6,700 crore, the project features two tunnels, two viaducts and a cable-stayed bridge across Tiger Valley. The engineering scope involved complex execution in the challenging terrain of the Sahyadri ranges, characterised by heavy rainfall and difficult geological conditions.
The tunnels, constructed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method, span 1.58 km and 8.86 km respectively, with a width of approximately 23.5 metres, placing them among the widest road tunnels globally. The longer tunnel runs deep below the Lonavala lake level, adding to construction complexity. The viaduct includes a 650-metre cable-stayed bridge with pylons reaching 182 m, supported by an extensive cable system.
The Missing Link is expected to reduce the travel distance by around 6 km and cut journey time by up to 30 minutes. Initially, only light motor vehicles and buses will be permitted on the stretch, while heavy vehicles will continue to use the existing route.
The project is also expected to lower fuel consumption and emissions, with estimated daily savings of around Rs 1 crore. No changes in toll rates have been proposed in connection with the new corridor.