With traffic volumes expected to increase, particularly with the forthcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, authorities are already considering the next phase: expanding the expressway from six to ten lanes.
Overview of the Missing Link
The 13.3-km Missing Link connects Khopoli to Kusgaon, enabling vehicles to bypass the congested ghat area of Lonavala–Khandala, according to The Indian Express. Currently, this section accommodates around 1.5 lakh vehicles daily and experiences significant traffic delays. The new eight-lane bypass is projected to cut travel time by nearly 30 minutes and decrease the distance by approximately six kilometers.
The project includes two twin tunnels measuring 1.68 km and 8.87 km in length, as well as a 650-meter cable-stayed bridge that rises 182 meters high. Officials indicate that this link is vital for removing a long-standing bottleneck and enhancing traffic flow on the corridor.
In parallel, MSRDC plans to widen the existing six-lane expressway to ten lanes, anticipating the full operation of Navi Mumbai International Airport. As the new Missing Link has eight lanes, this creates a discrepancy with the older section.
To resolve this, a proposal has been put together to acquire around 100 hectares of land for the expansion. The project is projected to exceed ₹ 5,000 crore in costs, with work expected to commence after the monsoon and possibly take up to five years for completion. Officials assert that the aim is to promote smoother traffic movement along the entire route.
The Evolution of the Expressway
Prior to the expressway’s construction, National Highway 4 connected Mumbai and Pune through a 192-km, two-lane road over hilly terrain, resulting in extended travel times. Increasing traffic, from 60,755 passenger car units in 1997 to an anticipated one lakh by 2004, necessitated a high-speed corridor.
The 94.6-km expressway was completed in just 27 months and opened in 2000. This infrastructure includes 17 viaducts, 26 underpasses, two railway overbridges, and a 5.7-km tunnel, with more than 1,000 hectares of land acquired.
Nonetheless, traffic merging near the Khalapur toll plaza and the narrow area close to Khandala leads to congestion. With the Missing Link ready to open, these challenges are expected to be mitigated.
