Teams Accelerate Work on Mumbai-Pune Expressway’s Missing Link Ahead of Deadline
Construction Progress Amid Resource Challenges
The completion of the Missing Link on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, a project valued at Rs 6,695 crore, is approaching its long-anticipated deadline of May 1. This construction aims to alleviate traffic on the hazardous and congested 19.8 km Ghat section between Khalapur and Kusgaon, allowing vehicles to bypass this perilous route and significantly reduce travel time by approximately 30 minutes. Construction teams, including engineers and laborers, are working extended hours in the lead-up to the deadline, despite facing supply challenges due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia which has impacted the availability of essential materials such as bitumen and waterproofing agents.
Rajesh Patil, Joint Managing Director of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), stated, “Our aim is to finish all work by May 1. Everything is on track.” He acknowledged that some delays had occurred in procuring necessary materials, which hindered progress by a few days, but expressed confidence in the team’s efforts to meet the deadline.
Current Status and Future Inauguration
While the MSRDC is focused on completing construction by the target date, no inauguration date has yet been confirmed. The final timeline may depend on the availability of political figures for the event. An MSRDC representative provided an update indicating that the last phase of laying bitumen is currently underway on the cable-stayed bridge section of the project. The shortage of bitumen, primarily derived from crude oil, has caused costs to soar, with a report by ANAROCK in March revealing price increases to Rs 48,000-51,000 per tonne—now rising further by over 50%.
The MSRDC official noted, “Both bitumen and waterproofing material are limited in supply, resulting in delays of two to four days for our work schedule. While we previously aimed to finish by April 25, we are striving to achieve our May 1 goal.”
Structural Features of the Missing Link
The Missing Link comprises a total alignment of 13.3 km, featuring an 850-meter viaduct, a 1.75 km tunnel, a 640-meter cable-stayed bridge, and an additional 8.9 km tunnel through the hills. The cable-stayed bridge, which climbs to 180 meters in Tiger Valley, and the tunnels extend nearly 9 km beneath the hills and Lonavala Lake. This innovative infrastructure will provide an alternative to the steep and winding Ghat section, offering a more direct route for travelers between Mumbai and Pune while also enabling vehicles to avoid the influx of tourists visiting Lonavala and Khandala.
Load testing for the Missing Link commenced in early April, with construction teams having previously completed the tunnel segments. The remaining tasks primarily involve finalizing work on the deck of the cable-stayed bridge to ensure safety and functionality.
About the Author
Sabah Virani is a journalist with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau, where she reports on infrastructure, housing, and urban issues. With a focus on the technical aspects of ongoing projects, she highlights the impacts on local communities and the pace of urban development in the city.
Her expertise includes tracking the efforts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and other relevant organizations, monitoring ongoing infrastructure initiatives such as the metro system, road expansions, and the high-speed rail project. Additionally, her reporting covers developments in housing and significant redevelopment projects across Mumbai.
