Mumbai: A portion of the newly inaugurated Missing Link on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway suffered a concrete slab collapse on Monday following incessant rainfall in the Lonavala region, disrupting traffic and drawing renewed attention to the durability of the recently commissioned infrastructure.
The incident occurred near the entry point of the Missing Link, where a section of the concrete slab gave way. Videos from the site showed the damaged stretch along with a portion of the adjacent hillside collapsing after continuous heavy rain. While traffic has not been completely suspended at the location, vehicular movement has slowed considerably as officials assess the damage and undertake safety measures.
The collapse follows days of intense rainfall across Lonavala and Talegaon, where precipitation has exceeded the seasonal average, increasing the risk of landslides and structural damage.
The latest incident comes shortly after potholes were reported on the Missing Link, sparking concerns over construction quality. Responding to the issue earlier, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had stated that newly constructed roads require time to settle and that the first monsoon helps identify defects before the final wearing course is laid.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall and multiple landslides have severely affected connectivity between Mumbai and Pune. Authorities have suspended traffic on both the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the old Mumbai-Pune Highway in both directions until further orders.
“Due to landslides and continuous heavy rains, traffic on both the Pune-Mumbai Expressway and the old Mumbai-Pune Highway has been severely affected. Traffic in both the Pune-Mumbai and Mumbai-Pune directions has been completely closed until further orders. Citizens are requested not to travel between Pune-Mumbai or Mumbai-Pune until further orders. If you have to travel urgently, please travel as per the traffic advisories and updated information issued by the administration from time to time. The administration has requested citizens to cooperate.”
The disruption coincides with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a Red Alert for Mumbai, Thane and Raigad, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds. Palghar remains under an Orange Alert.
The IMD has warned of possible flooding, landslides, rockfalls and disruptions to road, rail, air and ferry services. It has also cautioned against damage to vulnerable structures and utility infrastructure. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has advised residents to avoid non-essential travel and stay away from trees, ageing buildings, electric poles and hoardings during adverse weather. Around 15,000 civic personnel have been deployed across Mumbai to respond to emergencies.
The slab collapse has once again brought the spotlight on the resilience of newly built infrastructure during extreme monsoon conditions, with the Missing Link project expected to face increased scrutiny over construction standards, drainage systems and long-term performance.
Source: Financial Express
