Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link Traffic Restricted For Maintenance, Mock Drill
On Wednesday afternoon, drivers on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway had to slow down and follow new signs because workers were fixing part of the road.
The police closed one side of a tunnel that goes towards Mumbai for three hours, from 12 noon to 3 pm.
They were doing maintenance and practicing what to do in an emergency inside the tunnel.
Police officers put cones and barriers on the road to keep people safe.
They told drivers to go slowly and stay far apart from other cars.
This road is very new, and it opened for full use in May.
It is called the missing link because it finishes a gap between two towns.
A few weeks ago, heavy rain caused rocks and mud to fall near the road.
That made the road close for almost 18 hours.
Now the police and workers want to make sure the road and tunnels stay safe for everyone.
Traffic on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway Connecting Link, known as the missing link, was regulated and diverted on Wednesday afternoon for maintenance work and a mock drill inside the Mumbai-bound tunnel.
The exercise began at 12 noon on 12th August and continued until 3 pm, with restrictions on the right-hand side tunnel carrying vehicles towards Mumbai.
The Highway Police managed traffic movement with cones, barricades, directional signage and deployed security personnel, asking motorists to drive slowly and maintain safe distance.
The 13.3-km corridor, inaugurated on 1st May, connects Khopoli and Kusgaon and was built to bypass the older Khandala-Lonavala ghat section, saving motorists around 25 to 30 minutes.
The restriction comes weeks after the corridor was shut for nearly 18 hours following a 6th July landslide triggered by heavy rainfall that affected the Pune-bound carriageway near Tunnel 2.
- Who
- The Highway Police, security personnel and maintenance authorities managing the Mumbai-Pune Expressway Connecting Link.
- What
- A three-hour traffic restriction and diversion on the Mumbai-bound tunnel of the Connecting Link for maintenance work and a mock drill.
- When
- Wednesday, 12th August, from 12 noon until 3 pm.
- Where
- The right-hand side tunnel of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway Connecting Link (missing link), which connects Khopoli and Kusgaon.
- Why
- To carry out maintenance work and a mock drill inside the Mumbai-bound tunnel.
- Expressway
- Mumbai-Pune Expressway Connecting Link (Missing Link)
- Length
- 13.3 km
- Connects
- Khopoli and Kusgaon
- Inauguration
- 1st May
- Restriction Timing
- 12 noon to 3 pm, 12th August
- Reason
- Maintenance work and mock drill inside Mumbai-bound tunnel
- Previous Disruption
- Landslide on 6th July shut corridor for nearly 18 hours
- Time Savings
- Around 25 to 30 minutes on the Mumbai-Pune route