The new Missing Link on
the Mumbai–Pune Expressway is finally open. This 19.8 km stretch connects Khopoli to Kusgaon
near Lonavala, skipping the tough Khandala ghat. With this, travel time
between Pune and Mumbai is cut by 25–30 minutes, and the drive feels much
smoother.
What Makes It Special
- Cable bridge: A tall 182-metre cable-stayed
bridge over Tiger Valley.
- Tunnels: Two long tunnels, one almost 9 km,
passing deep under Lonavala lake.
- Viaducts: Elevated roads built to handle the
hilly terrain.
- Cost: Around ₹6,700 crore — one of
Maharashtra’s biggest road projects.
Rules for Driving
- Speed limit: 100 km/h for cars, 80 km/h for buses.
- For now, only cars and buses are allowed. Heavy
trucks will join later.
- Fog during monsoon and winter may affect
visibility, especially on the bridge
Why It Matters
- Less traffic: No more jams and risky turns
in the ghat section.
- Boost to business: Faster travel between
Mumbai (finance hub) and Pune (IT and industry hub).
- Future plans: Expressway may be widened to 10 lanes soon, especially with Navi Mumbai airport coming up.
This missing link is amazing marvelous architecture in recent times. This was very much required to reduce travel time and frequent accidents in ghat sections.
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