Traffic Regulated on Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link for Tunnel Mock Drill
Traffic movement on the Mumbai-bound tunnel of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway Connecting Link, which connects Khopoli and Kusgaon, was regulated and diverted on Wednesday afternoon as authorities carried out maintenance work and a mock drill inside the tunnel. The exercise commenced at 12 noon on 12th August and was scheduled to run until 3 pm. Specific traffic restrictions were put in place on the right-hand side (RHS) tunnel, which carries all vehicle traffic heading towards Mumbai.
To ensure safety and smooth flow during the three-hour exercise, the Highway Police managed traffic movement surrounding the designated work area. Official personnel deployed cones, barricades, and directional signage to guide passing drivers, alongside security personnel stationed at the site. Motorists travelling through the affected stretch were advised to follow all instructions issued by the traffic police, reduce their driving speed, and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles on the road.
The traffic restriction on Wednesday comes barely three months after the new Connecting Link became fully operational and weeks after the corridor faced a major disruption during the monsoon season. Also known as the Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link, the 13.3-kilometre long corridor was officially inaugurated on 1st May. It was constructed to allow vehicles to bypass the older Khandala-Lonavala ghat section, which frequently experiences congestion and delays.
The entire infrastructure project incorporates several complex engineering structures, including tunnels, viaducts, and a major cable-stayed bridge situated over Tiger Valley. The new stretch was engineered with the aim of shortening the travel distance along the Mumbai-Pune route, thereby saving motorists approximately 25 to 30 minutes of travel time.
Despite its benefits, the new corridor suffered a major monsoon-related setback shortly after opening to the public. On 6th July, heavy rainfall triggered a landslide near the Connecting Link. Falling debris and heavy boulders affected the Pune-bound carriageway near the exit of Tunnel 2, prompting an immediate emergency response.
Following the landslide, the corridor was shut down for nearly 18 hours while the fallen debris was cleared away and the impacted location was thoroughly inspected. Traffic was eventually restored after technical experts performed a comprehensive examination of Tunnel 2 and the adjoining hill slope. The incident raised major concerns regarding the potential impact of heavy monsoon rainfall and unstable hill slopes along the newly opened expressway corridor.
