Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway, known as the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, is the pride of modern Indian infrastructure. Encompassing around 94.5 km, it links two significant landmarks of Maharashtra, Mumbai and Pune, changing the mode of travel in-between both these cities. Set as a new sample for building future roadways in the country, this expressway was India’s first six-lane, concrete, access-controlled road with tolls, which opened in 2002. It is a vital lifeline for commuters, saving time and providing a safer and more comfortable journey compared with the old National Highway 48.
The expressway is designed to handle high traffic volumes and ensure smooth vehicular flow; its engineering marvels, tunnels and viaducts have earned it accolades. But as with any extensive infrastructure, it had problems, including traffic bottlenecks and crashes, particularly on the last and very steep legs, called “ghats.” To overcome these challenges and improve the usefulness of this important route, the government is executing such projects as the ‘Missing Link’, designed to circumvent the problematic ghat sections and improve the efficacy of this vital link.
Historical Background and Evolution
Conceived in 1992, the Mumbai–Pune Expressway was developed in the early 1990s to alleviate the traffic congestion on the National Highway 48 (NH 48), urban facilities and plug accessibility gaps. In 1990, the Maharashtra government appointed RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Service) to conduct feasibility studies for a toll-based expressway. RITES submitted its report in 1994, and the project was estimated to cost ₹11.46 billion. Later, in March 1997, the construction of the expressway was awarded to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model that allowed the state government to collect tolls for 30 years. By the end of 1997, all environmental and forest clearances were in place, and construction had begun. The project was phased and issued in work orders to four contractors in January 1998. The expressway became fully operational in April 2002, with an estimated construction cost of ₹1630 crore (approx. ₹163 billion).
Structural Elements and Design
The expressway starts from Navi Mumbais Kalamboli and ends at Kiwale in Pune. It passes through the picturesque Sahyadri mountains, using multiple tunnels and viaducts to get through difficult regions. The prominent interchanges on this route are- Kon (Shedung), Chowk, Khalapur, Kusgaon, and Talegaon. There are three concrete lanes for each carriageway and a central divider separating the two, with shoulders on either side for added safety. It is worth informing you that pedestrians, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, bullock carts and tractors are prohibited on the expressway, while tractor-trailers are permitted. Stopping on the expressway is prohibited as it disrupts the smooth traffic flow. Engineered for 100,000 Passenger Car Unit (PCU) daily usage, it now handles roughly 43,000 PCUs.
Measuring Safety and Challenges
Though of contemporary design, the expressway has seen many accidents, mainly attributable to drivers and high traffic volumes. In its first decade of operation, there were more than 1,750 accidents and more than 400 deaths. Familiar tragedies include the accident of May 28, 2012, near Khalapur, when a tempo travelling at high speed rammed into a parked bus, killing 27 passengers. Initiatives such as the ‘Zero Fatality Corridor‘ project were launched to address these issues, and fatalities on the expressway were eliminated by addressing engineering flaws and promoting safe driving practices. In April 2020, a 190-year-old Amrutanjan Bridge was demolished as a part of the project, eliminating a major bottleneck and improving safety and traffic circulation in the ghat stretch.
Tunnels and Engineering Monuments of Modernity
Along the expressway are multiple lit and ventilated tunnels, built by the Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd., to cross the hilly terrain of the Western Ghats.
These tunnels include:
- Bhatan Tunnel: Inaugurated in April 2000, the Mumbai-Pune tube is 1,046 meters while the Pune-Mumbai tube is 1,086 meters.
- Madap Tunnel: 295 meters (Mumbai-Pune), 351 meters (Pune-Mumbai) (Also opened in April 2000).
- Adoshi Tunnel: The Pune-Mumbai carriageway goes through this 230-meter, while the Mumbai-Pune carriageway hugs its east face.
- Khandala Tunnel: A twin, curved tube of 320 meters (Mumbai-Pune) and 360 meters (Pune-Mumbai).
- Kamshet-1 and Kamshet-2 tunnels: 935 meters and 191 meters.
- Pune-Mumbai tubes: 972 meters and 168 meters.
The Current Status and the ‘Missing Link’ Project
So, to improve the expressway, the ‘Missing Link‘ project has been taken up by MSRDC. The project is being implemented to relieve the vehicular congestion on the ghat section, known for its steep slopes and traffic pile-ups, between Khopoli and Sinhgad Institute. The new alignment will cut the distance by about 5.7 kilometres and cut travel time by 20-30 minutes for commuters. The project serves several key components:
- Tunnels: 1.75 km & 8.92 km long, both eight lanes.
- Viaducts: Two viaducts with eight lanes measuring 790 meters and 650 meters.
A cable-stayed bridge is also built around 100 meters above the Khandala Valley.
As of January 2025, the project was about 90% finished. However, problems such as complex terrain and high wind pressures bothering construction have repeatedly delayed its operational date. The ‘Missing Link‘ is now expected to be ready for use by August 2025.
Conclusion
But the Mumbai–Pune Expressway is not a mere road; it’s a classic example of India’s advancement in terms of modern transportation infrastructure. Mumbai Pune Express Highway, built in the year 1970 Mumbai Pune Expressway is India’s first concrete, six-lane, high-speed, access-controlled expressway. Had it not been for their efforts, the expressway would already be known as the shortest express path at less than 1 kilometre.
Mumbaikars have a reason to cheer as it will soon be more efficient and safer to use the expressway once the ‘Missing Link‘ project is completed. It will resolve age-old problems of congestion and accidents at the ghat and facilitate the seamless movement of thousands of vehicles each day by bypassing the ghat stretches. Saving both time and energy, the new expressway system will not only invigorate the Mumbai–Pune corridor. Still, it will also serve as the future model for expressway systems across the nation, echoing the government’s pledge to create vibrant infrastructure in India.
