Passengers traveling between Mumbai and Pune will soon experience shorter travel times as the “missing link” project nears completion. The new route, which includes India’s tallest cable bridge, is expected to reduce the travel time by 25 minutes. It will also shorten the distance between the two cities by six kilometers. The project, which features two tunnels and two cable bridges, is on track for completion by June 2025.
The cable bridge, spanning between two mountains near Khopoli, stands 183 meters above the ground. It is designed to withstand winds of up to 250 km per hour. This engineering marvel is 80 percent complete. Currently, the distance between Khopoli exit and Sinhagad Institute on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway is 19 kilometers but once the missing link is finished, this will be reduced to 13.3 kilometers.
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is constructing this 13.3 km-long new route, which includes an 11 km tunnel and nearly 2 km of cable bridge. The tunnel excavation is complete, and finishing work is underway. The new route will bypass the accident-prone Ghat section and help avoid landslides that frequently disrupt travel, especially during the monsoon season.
Designed for durability, the bridge will last for over 100 years and allow vehicles to travel at speeds of up to 100 km per hour. The first phase of the bridge is already complete and the second phase is in progress. This project promises to revolutionize travel between Mumbai and Pune, offering safer and faster commutes.
