Pune-Mumbai is Even Closer Now! Missing Link on Expressway to Open by Mid-2025

Seamless travel awaits as infrastructure project nears completion.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has announced that the long-awaited Missing Link project on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway will be operational by June 2025. Officially named the Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway (YCEW) Missing Link, this ambitious project aims to reduce congestion and improve connectivity between Mumbai and Pune, enhancing travel efficiency and safety.

Project Overview

The Missing Link project has been divided into two key execution packages:

• Package-I: Two eight-lane tunnels spanning 1.75 km and 8.92 km.

• Package-II: Two eight-lane viaducts measuring 790 m and 650 m.

Currently, traffic from both the six-lane expressway and the four-lane NH-4 converges near the Khalapur Toll Plaza and diverges near the Khandala exit, causing significant congestion, especially during heavy traffic and landslides. This bottleneck reduces speeds and increases travel time, while ghat section bends and sudden speed changes contribute to higher accident rates.

Benefits of the Missing Link

The project is designed to address these challenges by:

• Reducing distance: Cutting 13 km off the route and eliminating ghat section bends.

• Time savings: Reducing travel time between Pune and Mumbai by 20-25 minutes.

• Improving safety: Minimizing congestion and sharp turns to reduce accidents.

• Environmental benefits: Decreasing fuel consumption and pollution levels.

Key Infrastructure Highlights

• Asia’s Tallest Cable-Stayed Bridge: A bridge across Tiger Valley, part of the Lonavala ghat section, is under construction but has faced delays.

• Progress Report: While the tunnel sections and another bridge are 98% complete, the Tiger Valley cable-stayed bridge is lagging and now expected to be completed by mid-2025.

The Rs 6,695 crore project promises to transform travel between Mumbai and Pune, but the extended timeline has also raised concerns over increased toll collection periods for motorists.

Current Status

As per news reports, MSRDC officials have confirmed that 85% of the work is complete. Once operational, the Missing Link will shorten the Pune-Mumbai route by 6 km and deliver smoother, faster, and safer commutes for travelers.

Despite delays in completing the Tiger Valley bridge, the remaining components are on track to meet the June 2025 deadline, marking a major milestone in India’s infrastructure development.