Mumbai-Pune Expressway’s ‘Missing Link’ Ready: India’s Longest Road Cable-Stayed Bridge To Open On May 1
Mumbai: In a major infrastructure boost for Maharashtra, the much-awaited Missing Link project on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway is set to open for traffic on May 1, promising faster, safer and smoother travel between Mumbai and Pune. The new 13.3-kilometre stretch will reduce the journey by around 6 kilometres and save nearly 30 minutes of travel time.
The Missing Link has been built to bypass the difficult and accident-prone Khandala-Lonavala ghat section, which is known for heavy congestion, sharp curves and steep slopes. The new alignment is expected to ease traffic pressure, especially during weekends and holiday rush.
A key attraction of the project is India’s longest road cable-stayed bridge, stretching around 650 metres across Tiger Valley. The route also includes twin tunnels, with one tunnel measuring nearly 8.9 kilometres, making it among the longest road tunnels in Asia.
Developed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) at a cost of ₹6,695 crore, the project uses advanced engineering to improve safety and speed on one of the busiest expressways in the country.
Officials said that in the first phase, only light motor vehicles, including cars and buses, will be allowed on the Missing Link stretch, while heavy vehicles will continue on the old expressway route until further review.
The project is expected to benefit thousands of daily commuters, transport operators and tourists travelling between Mumbai, Pune and Lonavala. Its inauguration on Maharashtra Day is being seen as a major milestone in the state’s road infrastructure development.
