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.