Milind Narvekar Urges Caution On Mumbai–Pune Expressway Missing Link Project, Seeks Phased Opening For Safety
Mumbai–Pune Missing Link Nears Opening; Travel Time To Drop By 30 Minutes
Mumbai | February 19, 2026
Milind Vidya Keshav Narvekar, Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council and member of the Public Undertakings Committee, has written a detailed letter to Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, regarding the ambitious Mumbai–Pune Expressway Missing Link Project, urging caution and a safety-first approach before opening the project to traffic.
In his letter, Narvekar congratulated the state government for the rapid progress of the world-class infrastructure project, stating that once completed, it will reduce travel time between Mumbai and Pune by nearly 30 minutes, significantly reduce road accidents, and provide relief from chronic traffic congestion in the Bor Ghat section. The project is expected to be completed and opened for traffic by April 2026.
However, highlighting the technically challenging nature of the project, Narvekar emphasized that the region involves deep valleys, high wind pressure zones, heavy rainfall, and dense fog conditions. He strongly appealed that no haste should be shown in opening the route for traffic until all technical tests, safety audits, and allied works are fully completed. He requested the Chief Minister to issue clear instructions to concerned departments to ensure comprehensive safety compliance.
Further, drawing attention to the increasing traffic load and congestion caused by heavy vehicles on the existing Mumbai–Pune Expressway, Narvekar proposed a phased operational plan. He suggested that for at least six months on a pilot basis, only passenger vehicles should be allowed on the Missing Link route, and **heavy vehicles should be strictly restricted.
Additionally, he made a strong safety recommendation that vehicles carrying fuel, flammable, or hazardous materials should never be permitted on this route, in order to prevent any potential disasters in the future.
Concluding his letter, Narvekar urged the state government to seriously consider these safety-oriented suggestions in the larger public interest, stressing that infrastructure development must go hand in hand with citizen safety and long-term risk prevention.
