Mumbai–Pune Expressway's 'Missing Link' fails first monsoon test; landslide sparks 12-hour traffic nightmare

MUMBAI/PUNE: The newly opened Mumbai–Pune Expressway ‘Missing Link’ project ran into serious trouble on Monday as heavy rains triggered a landslide near Tunnel 2, forcing a complete shutdown of the stretch and disrupting traffic between the two cities for over 12 hours.The landslide led to traffic diversions and raised sharp questions about the safety of the multi-crore infrastructure.Authorities shut sections of the expressway after debris and soil slipped onto the carriageway amid extremely heavy rainfall, severely impacting road connectivity between Mumbai and Pune.Traffic was diverted from the Missing Link alignment in the early hours as a precautionary measure, leaving motorists stranded for hours near Lonavala and Khandala.

Landslide, closures and traffic chaos

Officials said the landslide occurred near the exit of Tunnel 2 on the Pune-to-Mumbai lane, prompting the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to divert traffic from 4am.The Mumbai-bound lane was completely closed, while traffic on both the expressway and the old Mumbai–Pune highway was affected due to waterlogging and slope instability .Motorists reported bumper-to-bumper traffic in the Lonavala stretch after being rerouted, as rain continued to lash the region.

District authorities issued public advisories urging people to avoid travelling between Mumbai and Pune until conditions improved.

‘Missing Link’ under political fire

The disruption quickly snowballed into a political flashpoint, with Opposition leaders alleging that the Missing Link project had “failed its first monsoon test”.Congress leaders demanded an independent audit of the project’s construction quality and expenditure, citing visible damage and safety concerns inside tunnels and on approach roads .NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Supriya Sule expressed disappointment over the landslide incident. She said, “There must be an inquiry into who designed the bridge and who the contractor for the project is. The situation has become such that travelling from Pune to Mumbai is impossible; even some MLAs were unable to reach the Vidhan Bhavan.”Senior Congress spokesperson Anant Gadgil alleged that the project was opened in haste without adequate monsoon testing, claiming that tunnel linings and alignment choices could pose long-term risks during heavy rainfall .Opposition legislators also targeted the BJP-led government in the Maharashtra legislature, accusing it of pushing “headline-driven infrastructure” without ensuring durability and public safety. Protests were staged in Mumbai, with slogans mocking the government’s claims of world-class road projects .

Government response

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis told the state assembly that the extreme rainfall amounted to a “force majeure” situation and said disaster management agencies were on alert.He maintained that the incidents reflected the impact of extreme weather rather than a lack of preparedness, adding that a detailed statement would be made in the House .MSRDC officials said the diversion was a safety measure and that the situation was being monitored in coordination with highway traffic police. Restoration work, however, remained challenging due to continued heavy rainfall in the ghat sections .

Questions over a flagship project

The 13-km Missing Link, designed to bypass the accident-prone ghat section and cut travel time between Mumbai and Pune by up to 30 minutes, was opened barely two months ago.Monday’s landslide and prolonged disruption have now reignited concerns over whether the project was adequately prepared to withstand harsh monsoon conditions in the Sahyadri terrain .With visuals of debris, water seepage and stranded vehicles circulating widely on social media, pressure is mounting on the government to explain how a flagship expressway project faltered during its first spell of heavy rain.

Mumbai-bound carriageway reopened after safety checks

The Mumbai-bound carriageway of the Mumbai–Pune Expressway Missing Link section was reopened for traffic later on Monday after being shut due to the rain-triggered landslide, MSRDC said.MSRDC officials said debris was cleared and safety inspections were carried out before allowing vehicles to pass through the stretch. Motorists have been advised to exercise caution as heavy rainfall continues in the ghat section.