92% work done, Mumbai-Pune ‘missing link’ set for August finish

The “missing link” project has been delayed multiple times due to the complex challenges of the terrain and ambitious engineering feats. (Express Photo)

“Although the tunnels and viaduct 1 are ready, the second viaduct is still under construction. This part is especially tricky because it spans over a valley,” the official explained.

The second viaduct, which forms a key section of the project, is a cable-stayed bridge that reaches a staggering height of 100 meters above Khandala Valley. This towering structure, along with other engineering challenges, has made the project both time-consuming and intricate.

Despite these delays, the work has not disrupted traffic on the existing Mumbai-Pune Expressway, which remains one of the busiest roads in the country.

The MSRDC official said they have taken extra care to ensure minimal disturbance to drivers during construction.

Despite these delays, the work has not disrupted traffic on the existing Mumbai-Pune Expressway, which remains one of the busiest roads in the country. (Express Photo)

“We are focusing on the work being done safely and without affecting the regular flow of traffic, ” the official added stating that infact now they are using the vaiduct 1 and tunnel of the project to reach on the vaiduct 2 work site.

Starting at Khopoli, the project includes an 840-meter viaduct, a 1.75-kilometer tunnel, and a 640-meter cable-stayed bridge that soars 100 meters above the Tiger Valley in the Lonavala-Khandala section.

Following this, the route continues through another 8.9-kilometer tunnel — some parts of which are as deep as 170 feet beneath the ground with the Lonavala lake resting above it.

This new alignment will reduce travel time significantly. Currently, the distance between Khopoli and the Sinhgad Institute via the expressway is 19 kilometers, much of it through a ghat section.

The MSRDC official said they have taken extra care to ensure minimal disturbance to drivers during construction. (Express Photo)

With fewer hills to navigate, drivers will also be able to travel at speed up to 120 km per hour. The project’s design also focuses on safety with officials stating that one of its primary goals is to turn the Mumbai-Pune Expressway into a “zero-fatality corridor.”

This initiative aims to reduce accidents, particularly in the notoriously hazardous ghat section.

Another pressing concern the project addresses is the perennial problem of traffic jams caused by falling boulders and debris from the surrounding hills, especially during the monsoon season. With a more secure route and advanced engineering solutions, MSRDC hopes to end these seasonal disruptions and ensure smoother, safer commutes for travelers.