Mumbai–Pune Expressway sees heavy congestion towards Pune amid Diwali rush
Long weekend and festive travel cause traffic delays near Khandala Ghat and Lonavala toll plazas.
As the festive weekend begins, the Mumbai–Pune Expressway is witnessing major traffic congestion towards Pune due to the Diwali rush. On Saturday, October 18, 2025, several reports indicated delays of 15–20 minutes, especially near the Khandala Ghat and Lonavala toll areas.
Thousands of people are travelling from Mumbai to their hometowns and tourist destinations ahead of Diwali, which falls on October 20 and 21 this year. The long weekend has further added to the surge in vehicles, resulting in bumper-to-bumper movement across key chokepoints. The heavy volume of private cars and additional public transport buses has worsened the situation.
According to traffic officials, congestion is most severe during morning and evening hours. Motorists are advised to plan their travel carefully and avoid peak times.
Authorities said that the long-awaited “missing link” project—intended to bypass the Lonavala-Khandala ghat section and reduce travel time by about 30 minutes—is nearing completion but will not impact current festive traffic as it is not yet fully operational.
Travel Advisory:
- Check live updates on navigation apps like Google Maps or MapmyIndia before setting out.
- Start your journey early in the morning to avoid peak congestion.
- In case of emergencies, call the 24×7 national highway helpline at 1033.
- Follow advisories from traffic police for diversions and travel tips.
