Rain Damage Forces Closure of Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link Just Weeks After Opening

Traffic on the Pune-to-Mumbai lane of the recently inaugurated Missing Link section of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway was diverted on Monday after heavy monsoon rains triggered a landslide near Tunnel 2, authorities said.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) implemented the diversion from 4 a.m. as a safety precaution. Officials stated that continuous rainfall had weakened the surrounding terrain, leading to debris movement near the tunnel exit. The agency is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with the Highway Traffic Police.

The incident has disrupted traffic movement along the Khandala Ghat stretch, where waterlogging and the landslide have caused significant delays. Vehicles travelling toward Mumbai have been redirected through Lonavala, resulting in severe congestion on alternate routes.

Officials are closely monitoring the situation in coordination with the Highway Traffic Police.

Several commuters reported being stranded for hours after the diversion was introduced. Motorists using the Lonavala route faced slow-moving traffic and long queues as the increased vehicle load overwhelmed the town’s road network.

The 13-kilometre Missing Link corridor, opened approximately two months ago, was built to improve travel efficiency on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway by bypassing the busy Khandala Ghat section. The project cuts the route by nearly six kilometres and was expected to reduce travel time between the two cities by up to half an hour.

The disruption comes amid intense monsoon conditions affecting the Mumbai-Pune region. Heavy rainfall on Monday morning caused landslides and flooding at multiple locations, severely impacting road and rail connectivity.

Railway authorities reported the cancellation of at least 16 train services, while nine others were diverted due to weather-related disruptions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Pune and an orange alert for Mumbai, warning of continued heavy rainfall.

Police have advised the public to postpone non-essential travel between Mumbai and Pune until weather conditions stabilize and transport services return to normal.