Pune: Single Tanker Brings Mumbai–Pune Expressway To A Standstill, Forces Industrialist To Take Helicopter
Pune: Single Tanker Brings Mumbai–Pune Expressway To A Standstill, Forces Industrialist To Take Helicopter
Pune, February 5, 2026: A major traffic disruption on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway forced Pune-based industrialist Sudhir Mehta to take an unusual route home — by helicopter — after he remained stuck on the road for nearly eight hours.
The chaos began on Tuesday evening around 5 pm when a gas tanker overturned on the Mumbai-bound lane near the Khandala Ghat section. The vehicle was carrying highly flammable propylene gas, prompting authorities to suspend traffic movement as a safety precaution. As a result, thousands of vehicles were left stranded, with congestion stretching for several kilometres.
Sudhir Mehta, Chairman of Pinnacle Industries and EKA Mobility, shared his experience on social media platform X, posting aerial images of the traffic snarl. He said he opted for an aerial evacuation on Wednesday after spending hours trapped on the expressway.
Commenting on the situation, Mehta stressed the need for stronger emergency planning on high-speed highways. He pointed out that a single accident had brought traffic to a standstill for more than 18 hours, affecting lakhs of commuters. According to him, the expressway should have designated emergency exit points that can be opened during such incidents to allow vehicles to turn back.
He also suggested the installation of helipads at strategic locations along the route, noting that they are relatively inexpensive to build and require minimal land. Such facilities, he said, could significantly improve emergency response and evacuation during large-scale disruptions.
Traffic on the Mumbai-bound carriageway was finally restored in the early hours of Thursday, nearly 33 hours after the accident. Officials from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation confirmed that vehicular movement resumed at 1:46 am after the tanker was safely cleared near the Adoshi tunnel.
The Mumbai–Pune Expressway, India’s first six-lane, access-controlled concrete expressway, spans 94.5 km and connects Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Raigad, and Pune. During the peak of the congestion, vehicle queues reportedly extended up to 20 km.
Thousands of commuters, including women and children, were forced to spend long hours inside their vehicles, facing shortages of food, drinking water, and basic sanitation facilities.
