Mumbai-Pune ‘Missing Link’: Landslide shuts ₹7,000-cr project just 2 months after launch; Cong seeks independent audit
Heavy rains triggered a landslide near the exit of Tunnel 2
Mumbai-Pune ‘Missing Link’ Faces Setback as Landslide Disrupts Traffic
Theindiapostdaily.com – Heavy rains triggered a landslide near the exit of Tunnel 2 on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway’s “Missing Link,” forcing authorities to divert traffic on the Pune-Mumbai stretch early Monday, officials reported. The incident led to partial closures for several hours, disrupting commutes and raising questions about the project’s resilience to weather conditions.
Project Overview and Initial Impact
The 13-kilometer Mumbai-Pune Expressway ‘Missing Link,’ with a cost of ₹6,695 crore, was officially launched by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and became operational roughly two months ago. Designed to traverse the Sahyadri mountain range, it cuts travel distance by around 6 kilometers, reducing journey time by approximately 25 to 30 minutes.
Congress Raises Safety and Financial Concerns
Senior Congress spokesperson Anant Gadgil highlighted risks to the project’s safety and called for an independent review of both its construction standards and financial transparency, as reported by PTI. “The Maharashtra government must disclose expenditure details and conduct an audit by an external body to verify if financial irregularities occurred,” he stated in a public statement.
“There should be an independent audit of the project to ascertain whether any financial irregularities had taken place,” Gadgil added.
MSRDC’s Response to the Crisis
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRDC) implemented the traffic diversion starting at 4 AM as a preventive measure to protect travelers. Officials emphasized ongoing assessments with the Highway Traffic Police, urging drivers to use the route only when necessary.
Driver Accounts of the Disruption
A motorist traveling from Sangli to Mumbai recounted being stranded near Lonavala after authorities redirected traffic away from the Missing Link. “With the Missing Link closed, we took the Lonavala route and are now stuck in gridlock,” the individual told PTI.
Allegations of Structural and Design Flaws
Gadgil, an architect, pointed to visible defects in the tunnel linings, citing social media images from the region’s heavy rainfall. He warned that subpar construction could lead to collapse during monsoon seasons, as increased water seepage from the hills puts pressure on the structure. “Unlike Europe, where tunnels undergo 10 to 12 months of testing before public use, this project was opened without thorough safety checks,” he noted.
Political Promises and Project Significance
During its inauguration on May 1, Maharashtra Chief Minister Fadnavis described the Missing Link as the state’s new “connecting link,” while the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation framed it as a lasting fix for traffic congestion and accidents in the ghat region. At the time, MSRDC Managing Director Anilkumar Gaikwad claimed the route would “make travel between Mumbai and Pune quicker and more reliable,” eliminating one of the expressway’s busiest bottlenecks.
