A 13-kilometre connector on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, designed to bypass the congested and accident-prone Lonavala–Khandala ghat section, is set to be completed by December. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), overseeing the project, has confirmed that construction is in its final stages.

Currently, the 19-kilometre stretch between Khopoli and the Sinhgad Institute forces vehicles to navigate narrow, winding ghat roads. Once operational, the new link will allow motorists to skip this stretch entirely, easing congestion and improving safety.

Handling around 75,000 vehicles daily—rising to 120,000 on weekends—the Mumbai–Pune Expressway is one of India’s busiest highways. In 2024, the route recorded 191 accidents, prompting the urgent need for a safer, faster bypass. The new connector will begin at Khopoli and end near the Sinhgad Institute in Pune, enhancing overall connectivity.

Traffic is expected to increase further with the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport. To prepare, MSRDC also plans to widen the six-lane expressway to ten lanes. This Rs 140 billion project proposal will soon be submitted to the Maharashtra state cabinet for final approval, after which construction will begin in phases.