June 19, 2025: In a significant development, the long-anticipated “missing link” on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway is now slated for completion by December 2025. Once operational, this critical upgrade is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities by up to 25 minutes and cut the total distance by 13.3 kilometres.
Designed to enhance one of India’s busiest expressways, the missing link is a feat of modern engineering. The new alignment includes an 840-metre viaduct, a 1.75-kilometre tunnel, and a striking 650-metre cable-stayed bridge suspended above the picturesque Tiger Valley along the Lonavala-Khandala section. The route also features an 8.9-kilometre tunnel that runs as deep as 170 feet beneath Lonavala Lake, offering a more streamlined and direct connection.
With the upgraded route allowing speeds of up to 120 km/h, the commute between Mumbai and Pune is set to become faster, safer, and more fuel-efficient, thanks to fewer sharp curves and steep gradients. The project, overseen by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), has faced multiple delays since construction began, with the original completion date set for March 2024.
Revised deadlines shifted to January, March, June, and August 2025. However, MSRDC officials, as cited in Mid-Day, have now indicated steady progress and a new target of December 2025. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has underscored the importance of the project in easing traffic congestion and reducing fuel usage across the corridor.
Costing approximately Rs 6,600 crore, the project includes one of India’s tallest cable-stayed bridges, equivalent in height to a 45-storey building. Once complete, the missing link is expected to significantly enhance road connectivity for commuters, tourists, and freight transport alike — making the Mumbai-Pune journey quicker, smoother, and more scenic than ever before.
Source: MSN
