Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday inaugurated the Mumbai-Pune Expressway ‘Missing Link’ project and said that it should now be called as `connecting link`, as nothing is missing and the entire stretch is fully completed and operational.
Hours after its inauguration, the 13.3 km-long `Missing Link` was opened for traffic with limitations.
Officials had earlier stated that from May 1 to October 31, 2026, only light motor vehicles and buses will be allowed to use the Missing Link. Heavy cargo vehicles will not be permitted during this period and from November 1 onwards, authorities will review traffic patterns and safety data before deciding whether to allow goods vehicles on the new stretch.
Vehicles carrying flammable or dangerous goods will be permanently barred from using the Missing Link. Such vehicles will continue to use the existing route.
The officials have set firm speed limits, especially inside tunnels with 100 km/h for cars and 80 km/h for buses. They warned that even a small violation—exceeding the limit by more than 5 per cent—could lead to penalties.
Proposal was revisited
Speaking at the inaugural event, CM Fadnavis explained that the project was first proposed in 2010. However, after a report was prepared in 2013, the project was rejected by the previous government. But, when the Mahayuti government came to power, the proposal was revisited.
Fadnavis said he personally asked officials to restudy the project and present a revised plan. Following this, the government decided to move forward with construction, leading to the completion seen today.
#LIVE | मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस यांचे हस्ते यशवंतराव चव्हाण मुंबई-पुणे द्रुतगती मार्ग क्षमतावाढ अंतर्गत `मिसिंग लिंक` प्रकल्पाचे लोकार्पण@Dev_Fadnavis #Maharashtra #DevendraFadnavis #MumbaiPuneMissingLink pic.twitter.com/DEpENr37Co
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) May 1, 2026
He said, the project faced several technical challenges, particularly in building the cable-stayed bridge, which took years to design. Despite these difficulties, the team successfully delivered what the Chief Minister described as one of the country’s engineering marvels.
Experts from seven countries — including Canada, Denmark, Austria, Malaysia, Spain, Taiwan, and Singapore — contributed to the project, highlighting its global scale and technical complexity, Fadnavis said.
The project forms part of a modern 19.16-km corridor that also includes widening of a 5.86-km six-lane section between Khalapur and Khopoli interchange to eight lanes.
The tunnels were constructed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) and involved extensive geological studies across varying rock formations in the Sahyadri ranges, the MSRDC said.
Safety and modern infra
Advanced safety systems have been installed along the route. These include CCTV monitoring, as well as fire and emergency response services, ensuring a secure travel experience for commuters.
“The project is an outstanding example of modern engineering prowess,” CM Fadnavis wrote on X.
Fadnavis also praised the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) for their dedication and excellent work in completing the project.
The world record
After the inauguration, CM Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde, and Sunetra Pawar received a certificate from Guinness World Records.
The recognition was awarded for constructing the world’s widest underground tunnel, measuring 22.33 metres in width, located in the Lonavala section of the expressway.
मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस, उपमुख्यमंत्री एकनाथ शिंदे व उपमुख्यमंत्री सुनेत्रा अजित पवार यांनी यशवंतराव चव्हाण मुंबई-पुणे द्रुतगती मार्ग क्षमतावाढ अंतर्गत ‘मिसिंग लिंक’ प्रकल्पातील
लोणावळा परिसरात उभारलेल्या 22.33 मीटर रुंदीच्या जगातील सर्वात रुंद भूमिगत बोगद्यासाठी गिनीज वर्ल्ड… pic.twitter.com/YkDlUKlZDy— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) May 1, 2026
Faster, safer and greener travel
The Missing Link project is designed to provide a straighter and smoother route, avoiding the difficult and winding ghat section. This will reduce travel time, lower fuel consumption, and offer environmental benefits.
