India’s Tallest Cable-Stayed Bridge Nears Completion, Set To Cut Mumbai–Pune Travel Time By Up To 45 Minutes
India’s Tallest Cable-Stayed Bridge Nears Completion, Set To Cut Mumbai–Pune Travel Time By Up To 45 Minutes
With over 94% work completed, the massive bridge on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway is in its final phase and expected to open by April 2026.
A landmark engineering project on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway is nearing completion, as construction of India’s tallest cable-stayed bridge part of the ₹6,690-crore Missing Link project enters its final stretch. According to Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), over 94% of the work is done, and the structure is set to be fully operational by April 2026.
Rising 182 metres above sea level, the bridge will tower higher than the Bandra–Worli Sea Link’s 127-metre cable towers and will stand roughly as tall as a 60-storey building. Built deep inside the Sahyadri valley system, the project has involved years of highly challenging construction, with hundreds of workers operating at extreme heights across rugged terrain.
MSRDC’s Joint Managing Director Rajesh Patil described the effort as “one of the most demanding engineering tasks in the state,” noting that transporting workers and materials to such elevations required exceptional planning. Work on the bridge component alone is already 95% finished, with the remaining tasks expected to wrap up in the next few months.
A key highlight of the Missing Link project is its ability to streamline the most difficult ghat section between Khopoli Exit and Sinhagad Institute. The current 19-kilometre winding stretch will be reduced to a direct 13.3-kilometre route, significantly improving driving conditions. Officials estimate that this will cut travel time by 25–45 minutes, depending on traffic, while also reducing accident risks on the steep and congested inclines.
Soon: South Mumbai–Thane in just 25 minutes
— MMRDA (@MMRDAOfficial) December 1, 2025
MMRDA has commenced construction of the Elevated Eastern Freeway Extension, a 13.9 km, fully elevated 6-lane high-speed corridor that will dramatically reduce travel time between South Mumbai and Thane to 25–30 minutes, while easing… pic.twitter.com/9vL689iC7U
Once commissioned, the project will also ease chronic congestion caused by heavy vehicles. The steep gradients of the existing ghat frequently lead to long bottlenecks and slow-moving traffic, often stretching over several kilometres. The new alignment, featuring gentler curves and modern safety features, is expected to improve both traffic flow and road safety.
The bridge itself consists of two massive cable-stayed structures comprising about 2 kilometres in total length. Each bridge spans 850 metres with a width of 26 metres, capable of supporting travel speeds of up to 100 kmph. Along with the cable-stayed spans, the eight-lane project includes two tunnels and two viaducts, making it one of the most ambitious highway upgrades in the country.
The idea of this Missing Link dates back over two decades, when planners first envisioned a straighter and safer alternative to the ghat section during the development of India’s first expressway. With traffic volumes rising sharply in recent years, the plan was revived and handed to MSRDC — the same agency that built the Mumbai–Pune Expressway and the Bandra–Worli Sea Link.
When the Missing Link opens in 2026, daily Mumbai–Pune commuters, intercity travellers, and freight operators are expected to benefit significantly from smoother movement, reduced travel time, and fewer delays caused by ghat congestion.
