Mumbai-Pune Missing Link Project 96% Complete, New Deadline Set for September
Mumbai-Pune Missing Link 96% Ready, To Open by September 2025
PUNE, May 30: The much-awaited “missing link” road project between Mumbai and Pune is 96% complete, and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is now aiming to open it by September 2025.
Engineering Highlights
The project includes several major structures:
- A 1.75 km tunnel
- An 840-meter viaduct
- A 650-meter cable-stayed bridge over Tiger Valley
- An 8.9 km tunnel that passes 170 feet below Lonavala Lake
One of the most challenging parts is the cable-stayed bridge, which rises 180 meters above Khandala Valley. This section is still under construction and is difficult to complete, especially with the monsoon season around the corner.
Faster, Safer Travel
Once completed, the 13 km stretch will reduce the distance between Mumbai and Pune by 5.7 km and cut travel time by about 30 minutes. Vehicles will be able to drive at speeds of up to 120 km/h on the new road.
Besides saving time, the project will also help make the expressway safer by avoiding areas where landslides and falling rocks often cause accidents and traffic jams during the rainy season. The goal is to turn the Mumbai-Pune Expressway into a “zero-fatality corridor.”
Progress Despite Delays
The ₹6,600-crore project has faced multiple delays. The original opening date was March 2024, which was later moved to January, then March 2025, and now set for September 2025.
Even though construction has been tough, especially near Lonavala, MSRDC officials say they are moving forward carefully without disrupting traffic on the current expressway, which remains one of India’s busiest highways.
Current Work Status
The tunnels and first viaduct are already completed. Workers are now using those parts to access the site for the second viaduct, which is still being built across the valley. Officials are focusing on safety and steady progress as they push toward the final stages of the project.
