Mumbai-Pune Missing Link, Bypass Lonavala-Khandala, is to be completed by December 2025
Mumbai-Pune Missing Link, Bypass Lonavala-Khandala, is to be completed by December 2025
New tunnels and cable-stayed bridge to cut travel time by 25 minutes, boost safety on expressway
Motorists commuting between Mumbai and Pune will soon have a smoother, faster ride as the long-awaited Missing Link Project on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway is set to be completed by December 2025. The ambitious ₹6,695 crore infrastructure upgrade, which includes one of India’s tallest cable-stayed bridges and two of the world’s widest tunnels, aims to bypass the notoriously congested and landslide-prone Lonavala-Khandala ghat section.
The project shortens the current 19-km route between Khopoli exit and Sinhgad Institute of Technology in Lonavala to just 13 km, reducing travel time by 20 to 25 minutes, a significant relief during monsoon seasons when ghat traffic slows to a crawl.
The key components of the project include:
- A 650-metre cable-stayed bridge over Tiger Valley, enhancing structural safety and aesthetics
- An 8.9-km tunnel, with sections running 170 feet below Lonavala Lake
- A 1.75-km second tunnel and an 840-metre viaduct
- Emergency safety features with cross-passages every 300 metres within the tunnels
Currently, the 94-km Mumbai-Pune Expressway accommodates increasing vehicle volume, especially in the 10-lane stretch shared with NH-4 near Khalapur toll plaza and Khandala exit. This stretch often experiences landslides, traffic jams, and risky driving behavior due to time pressure. The Missing Link will decongest this bottleneck and reduce accident risks.
Work on the project began in 2017 with an initial target of March 2024. Though slightly delayed, the project’s completion is now in its final stages. Once opened, vehicles will divert after Khalapur toll plaza, traverse the newly built bridge and tunnels, including paths 150 metres under Lonavala lake and merge back onto the expressway at the Sinhgad Institute junction.
This strategic bypass will not only save time but also ensure safer and more predictable travel between two of Maharashtra’s busiest cities. For logistics companies, daily commuters, and tourists alike, this could be a game-changer, combining speed, safety, and scenic efficiency.
