The Mumbai-Pune Expressways new Missing Link section is open to traffic again after being closed for than 18 hours. This happened because of a landslide caused by monsoon rains. The Missing Link section was shut down after the landslide damaged a part of the road and blocked the way from Pune to Mumbai.
What Caused the Shutdown
The problem started on Monday, July 6 when the landslide occurred near Tunnel 2 on the Missing Link. The landslide happened at around 4’m and damaged a structure along the road. This forced the authorities to close both the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the old Mumbai-Pune Highway as a precaution.
The closure of the road had an impact on travel in the region. Train services between Mumbai and Pune were also stopped because of landslides in the Bhor Ghat section. The old Pune-Mumbai Highway had its problems, including a tree that fell and damaged a power line. This made it harder for people to find routes. There were also flood- conditions in the Maval and Tamhini Ghat areas, which affected other roads that people might have used to avoid the blocked expressway.
Traffic Resumes After Safety Checks
Traffic on the Mumbai-bound side of the Missing Link started moving at 10:10 pm on Monday night. This happened after the authorities checked the road for safety. Two lanes on the Pune-to-Mumbai side were opened,. The right lane is still closed. This is because water is still flowing onto the road from a channel on the mountainside that collapsed.
The people in charge of the road the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation worked hard to open the road again. They had to deal with rain strong winds and low visibility. They cleared the debris from the road cleaned the road and checked the tunnels and the slope to make sure it was safe for cars to pass.
About the Missing Link Project
The Missing Link is a 13.3-kilometre road that is part of the busy 94-kilometre-long Mumbai-Pune Expressway. It has tunnels and a cable-stayed bridge. The road was designed to avoid the winding and accident-prone Lonavala-Khandala ghat section. The Missing Link was expected to reduce the travel distance between Mumbai and Pune by 5.7 kilometres and cut the travel time by 20 to 30 minutes.
The landslide on the Missing Link has raised questions about whether the road’s ready for monsoon conditions. Engineers will check the road again after the monsoon season to see if more needs to be done to prevent incidents.
Travel Advisory Remains in Effect
The problem on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway happened during a period of heavy monsoon rains in Maharashtra. The rains caused flooding and waterlogging in parts of the state. The weather department had issued a warning for rainfall and high winds, in Mumbai and other areas. Because of the weather the authorities took many precautions. They stopped traffic told people to postpone -essential travel and closed schools. They also told government offices to send staff early and advised private offices to let people work from home.
Travel Advisory Remains in Effect
Even though the Missing Link is partially open the authorities are still warning people to be careful. They are telling people to check for traffic updates before they travel avoid the lane and be prepared for delays. The situation is still uncertain because the monsoon season is not yet and more heavy rainfall is expected.
