The Missing Link on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, a project worth ₹6,695 crore (approximately $805 million USD), is nearing completion with a target deadline of May 1. This project is designed to bypass the 19.8 km accident-prone Ghat stretch between Khalapur and Kusgaon, significantly reducing travel time by at least 30 minutes. Engineers and contractors are currently working around the clock to finish the project, although they face challenges in procuring bitumen and waterproofing materials due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has caused prices to rise by over 50%. Rajesh Patil, Joint Managing Director of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), confirmed that while some delays have occurred, efforts are being made to meet the deadline. The Missing Link features a 13.3 km alignment that includes an 850 m viaduct, a 1.75 km tunnel, and a 640 m cable-stayed bridge, allowing vehicles to avoid the steep inclines of the Ghat section. Load testing began in early April, and the final touches on the cable-stayed bridge are currently underway.