The much-anticipated “missing link” road project between Mumbai and Pune is reportedly 96 pre cent complete, with the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) targeting its opening by September 2025.The project features several significant engineering components, including a 1.75 km tunnel, an 840-meter viaduct, a 650-meter cable-stayed bridge over Tiger Valley, and an 8.9 km tunnel that passes 170 feet below Lonavala Lake. Among these, the cable-stayed bridge, which rises 180 meters above Khandala Valley, is considered one of the most challenging sections. MSRDC officials indicated that completing this part is particularly difficult, especially with the monsoon season approaching.Upon completion, the 13 km stretch is expected to reduce the distance between Mumbai and Pune by 5.7 km and cut travel time by approximately 30 minutes. The new road will allow vehicles to travel at speeds of up to 120 km/h. In addition to saving time, the project aims to enhance safety by rerouting the expressway away from areas prone to landslides and falling rocks, which frequently cause accidents and traffic congestion during the rainy season. The MSRDC’s goal is to transform the Mumbai-Pune Expressway into a “zero-fatality corridor.”Despite facing multiple delays, the Rs 66-billion project has progressed steadily. Initially scheduled to open in March 2024, the deadline was postponed first to January, then March 2025, and is now set for September 2025. MSRDC representatives acknowledged that construction near Lonavala has been particularly challenging but assured that work is proceeding cautiously to avoid disrupting traffic on the current expressway, which remains one of India’s busiest highways.Currently, the tunnels and the first viaduct have been completed. These completed structures are being used by workers to access the site for the construction of the second viaduct, which is still underway across the valley. Officials have emphasized maintaining safety and consistent progress as they approach the final stages of the project.News source: Pune Pulse