Mumbai-Pune Expressway's 'Missing Link' Set to Enhance Travel Safety and Reduce Congestion
Mumbai-Pune Expressway ‘missing link’ to open on May 1; will improve travel safety: Shinde
Hindustan Times
Image: Hindustan Times
The long-awaited 'missing link' on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway will be inaugurated on May 1, 2023, by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. This 13.3-km stretch aims to improve safety by bypassing the accident-prone Bhor Ghat section, reducing travel time between the two cities by 20 to 30 minutes.
- 01The missing link will connect Khopoli to Kusgaon, enhancing safety and reducing congestion.
- 02The project, costing ₹6,700 crore (approximately $810 million USD), includes two tunnels and a cable-stayed bridge.
- 03Travel time between Mumbai and Pune will decrease by 20 to 30 minutes.
- 04Initial access will be limited to light motor vehicles and buses, with no toll increase planned.
- 05The project is expected to boost tourism access to nearby attractions.
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The Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde, announced that the long-anticipated 'missing link' on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway will be inaugurated on May 1, 2023. This 13.3-km stretch will connect Khopoli on the Mumbai side to Kusgaon near Lonavala, significantly improving travel safety by bypassing the hazardous Bhor Ghat section. The project, developed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, has a total cost of ₹6,700 crore (approximately $810 million USD) and includes two tunnels, high viaducts, and India's tallest road cable-stayed bridge. Once operational, it is expected to reduce travel distance by approximately 6 km and cut journey times by 20 to 30 minutes. Initially, only light motor vehicles and buses will be allowed on the new stretch, while heavy goods vehicles will be prohibited for safety reasons. Shinde emphasized that there will be no toll increase at the Khalapur toll plaza due to this project. The expressway, which spans about 95 km, is notable for being India's first access-controlled highway.
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The new stretch will enhance safety for commuters traveling between Mumbai and Pune, potentially reducing accidents and travel delays.
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