The ‘Missing Link’ project of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway is currently reaching its final stage. The project is likely to be open to the public by September 2025. Developed by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the 13.3-kilometre extension will create a quicker transit between Mumbai and Pune with a 30-minute time reduction, together with increased safety for travelers.
Route Shortening And Speed Enhancement
The newly designed route shortens the existing Khopoli exit to Sinhgad Institute distance from 19.8 kilometers to 14.1 kilometers. The vehicles traveling on this route will achieve maximum speeds, reaching 120 km/h after initiation of operational status. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation reports that 96% of the work is done, but building the second elevated structure across a valley poses the most significant challenge.
Also Read: Ganga Expressway: 594-Km Route Linking Western And Eastern Uttar Pradesh Expected To Open By…
Record-Setting Tunnel Construction
The record-setting tunnels stretch 23.30 meters wide and contain four normal traffic paths together with safety lanes on both sides. The novel pathway functions to eliminate the hazardous ghat section where accidents took place, while it serves as a basis to establish the expressway as a “zero-fatality corridor” and resolve persistent traffic blockages from monsoon-borne rock fragments. The project began operations in March 2019 with an original completion schedule set for March 2024. The deadline for the project underwent multiple extensions, starting from January 2025 until March 2025, before settling at September 2025.
Project Cost And Key Structures
As reported by Times Now, the Rs 6,600 crore project will have a 1.75 km tunnel, an 8.9 km long tunnel, and an 840-meter viaduct.
