The existing Mumbai-Pune Expressway section from Khopoli exit to Sinhgad Institute in Kusgaon spans 19.8 km, and passes through the hill town of Lonavala.
The New Year is set to bring some respite to commuters between Mumbai and Pune, who face frequent traffic chaos, especially on weekends and during the festive season. The missing link project in Lonavala is nearly complete and will open to the public in the next few months, reducing travel time by 30 minutes.
“There were a lot of challenges in the construction of the missing link road project, which is 13.3 km long and cuts through hills and crosses the valley. All project hurdles have been overcome, and the major work is complete. Only small works are remaining,” said a senior officer of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).
Non-stop 19.8-km bypass to Lonavala
The missing link project was undertaken to reduce the distance to 13.3 km by cutting across the hill through two tunnels, 8.9 km and 1.7 km long, respectively. The project also includes two cable-stayed bridges, 840 metres and 650 metres long.
“The work on the tunnels was completed a few months ago. The toughest challenge was the viaduct connecting the two tunnels in a deep valley. The work on the viaduct has now been completed, so the missing link will open for the public after the small works are completed,” he said, adding that the widening of the lane towards Khopoli has also been done to cater to the vehicle flow once the missing link is opened.
After crossing all the hurdles due to difficult terrain, the much-awaited 13.3km-long ‘missing link’ road project will reduce travel time by half an hour. The project was expected to be completed by May this year, but the deadline was extended to December.
“The deadline for the project was extended multiple times due to difficulty in the work. Now, the deadline of March 2026 will be achieved,” said an MSRDC officer.
The travel time between Pune and Mumbai is around 3.5 hours via Vashi, but the traffic chaos can extend it further. If commuters use the same route, the travel time will be 3 hours.
The construction of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Trans Harbour Link, also known as Atal Setu, has reduced the travel time between Pune and South Mumbai to around three hours. After the missing link is constructed, the Lonavala bypass will reduce travel time to around 2.5 hours.
The ‘missing link’ project will reduce travel time between the two cities by 30 minutes and the distance by over 6 km. The 13.3-km road project would save fuel and time and feature Asia’s widest tunnel.
The early onset of the monsoon this year and the consequent heavy rain slowed the project’s progress. According to MSRDC, the ‘missing link’ tunnels are 23.30 metres wide with four lanes and one emergency lane. Also, the 650-metre bridge is one of the tallest in the country.
The Rs 6,595-crore road project began in 2019 and was scheduled for completion in 2022, but was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.