Mumbai-Pune Expressway Set To Open In August 2025 As 95 Per Cent Work Complete: Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde

In a significant leap forward for Maharashtra’s infrastructure and regional connectivity, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has confirmed that 95 per cent of the work on the much-anticipated ‘Missing Link’ project on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway has been completed.

According to the Indian Express, the forthcoming 13 kilometre 'missing link' that will intersect the current Mumbai-Pune expressway is set to decrease the distance between the two cities by 5.7 kilometres. This development is expected to cut travel time by approximately 30 minutes.

The Rs 6,600 crore project, poised to reduce travel time between the two economic hubs, is expected to be completed by August 2025.

Initially targeted for March 2024, the project has undergone timeline revisions owing to its complex engineering requirements. However, with the finishing line now in sight, the project promises to steer in a new era of high-speed, high-safety commuting between Mumbai and Pune.

“Although the tunnels and the first viaduct are ready, construction of the second viaduct is ongoing. This part is especially challenging as it spans over a valley," a senior Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) official was quoted by the Times of India as saying.

Beginning at Khopoli, the new alignment includes: An 840-metre viaduct, a 1.75-kilometre tunnel and a 640-metre cable-stayed bridge soaring 100 metres above the Tiger Valley in the Lonavala-Khandala belt.

“This work has to be done with utmost care. There has to be testing at every level and there should be no negligence,” Shinde said as quoted by the Indian Express.

With the new link bypassing the ghat-heavy section, commuters will be able to cruise at speeds of up to 120 kmph. Importantly, officials say the project is a critical step toward transforming the expressway into a “zero-fatality corridor”, eliminating accident-prone spots and ensuring smoother vehicular flow.

MSRDC officials stress that despite the complexity of the construction, work was completed without interfering with traffic on the current expressway, which is still one of the busiest roadways in India.