Monsoon Rain Creates Waterfalls Along Expressway Missing Link Near Lonavala

Continuous monsoon rainfall has transformed the newly opened Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link near Lonavala and Khandala into a scenic landscape, with waterfalls cascading down the green Sahyadri hills along the Pune-bound carriageway. The stretch near Lonavala in the Maval region has been covered in mist, low-hanging clouds, and rainwater streams flowing alongside the road after persistent rain across the hills.

The 13.3 km Missing Link, also known as the Khopoli-Kusgaon Connecting Link, was developed at a cost of around Rs 6,695 crore to bypass the accident- and landslide-prone ghat section between Khandala and Lonavala. It connects the Khopoli exit in Raigad district with Kusgaon near Lonavala in Pune district. The modern infrastructure corridor features two major tunnels spanning a combined length of around 10.55 km, along with elevated viaducts and a 650-metre cable-stayed bridge.

While the newly opened route offers motorists views of the surrounding mountain slopes during the rainy season, the corridor has also faced monsoon disruptions during its first season. On July 6, heavy rain caused a landslide near Tunnel II, blocking traffic on the newly opened stretch. The road was reopened after more than 18 hours following debris clearance and safety checks.

With temporary streams running down the rocky slopes of the Sahyadri range during periods of intense rainfall, motorists travelling through the mountainous corridor have been advised to remain cautious while navigating the route.