Mumbai- Pune Missing Link Traffic Restored After Landslide Clearance
Mumbai- Vehicular movement on the Mumbai-Pune Missing Link resumed on Tuesday morning after the route remained shut for around 18 hours following a landslide near the entrance of a tunnel. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation said traffic was reopened after debris removal and safety checks on the affected stretch.
Clearance Work Completed Overnight
According to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, teams worked through difficult weather conditions to clear mud, rocks and other debris from the Pune-Mumbai Connecting Link Road. The agency said specialised machinery was deployed to clean the carriageway and restore access on the important corridor between Mumbai and Pune.
Officials stated that the debris was removed by 11.10 pm on Monday. Following the clearance operation, the road was examined by MSRDC engineers, road safety officials and representatives of the construction company before vehicles were allowed to return.
Two Lanes Opened for Vehicles
Traffic has been permitted on two lanes of the Missing Link after authorities confirmed that the route was safe for partial movement. MSRDC shared an update showing officials signalling the reopening of the road after the inspection process was completed.
The corporation said technical experts inspected Tunnel 2 and the adjoining hillside to check for loose soil, stones or other material that could create further danger. The review was carried out before reopening the carriageway for commuters.
Weather Conditions Continue to Affect Operations
Heavy rain, dense fog and strong winds continue to affect the area, officials said. These conditions have restricted aerial operations and made monitoring of the surrounding slopes more difficult.
Water is still flowing across the remaining two lanes of the road, which is why authorities have not allowed full traffic movement on the stretch. Motorists have been advised to drive carefully and follow instructions issued by traffic police and highway officials.
Mumbai-Bound Traffic Faced Long Delays
After the landslide, Mumbai-bound vehicles were diverted through the existing Mumbai-Pune Expressway via the Lonavala ghat section. The diversion added pressure on the expressway, where traffic moved slowly for several hours.
The situation was further affected by landslides in parts of the ghat section and waterlogging near Khalapur. These conditions resulted in long queues on the Mumbai-bound carriageway during the day.
Other Road Sections Also Affected
The Mumbai-Pune Expressway reported disruption at several locations during the monsoon spell. Traffic movement was affected near the Urse tunnel due to landslides and flooding, while waterlogging also caused problems on the old Mumbai-Pune Highway.
Authorities have appealed to commuters to avoid non-essential travel during periods of intense rainfall. People travelling between Mumbai and Pune have been asked to check official traffic updates before starting their journey and to follow diversion instructions where required.