Mumbai-Pune Expressway’s Missing Link – Details, Status, Updates, News

The ‘Missing Link’ project of the Mumbai Pune Expressway, which spans 13.3 kilometer, is currently under development by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). This project aims to construct an 8-lane access-controlled highway connecting Khopoli to Kusgaon, incorporating viaducts, tunnels, and bridges.

Its primary objective is to bypass the challenging hairpin turns of Khandala Ghat, notorious for landslides. The project is expected to reduce travel distance by 6 kilometer, decrease travel time by 25 minutes, and provide a more direct route. Approved by the Maharashtra Government’s Cabinet on June 13, 2017, the project is scheduled for completion and opening in September 2024, surpassing its original deadline of March 2024.

Key components include two twin tunnels (1.75 kilometer & 8.92 kilometer), two cable-stayed bridges (770 meter & 645 meter), one small bridge, and several culverts (11 pipe culverts and two box culverts). The estimated cost of the project is INR 6695 crore, covering a total length of 13.30 kilometer with 8 lanes. The right of way (ROW) is 100 meter, and the tunnel width is 23.5 meter. The project follows the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model.

Route Map and Progress