The Maharashtra Chief Minister has inaugurated the world’s widest tunnel as part of the ambitious Mumbai–Pune Expressway “Missing Link” project, marking a major milestone in India’s infrastructure development. The project is designed to bypass the hazardous mountain pass section between Khandala and Lonavala, significantly improving safety and reducing travel time by up to 30 minutes.
The newly opened corridor features two eight-lane tunnels, multiple viaducts, and India’s tallest cable-stayed bridge standing at 182 meters. Built at an estimated cost of ₹6,700 crore, the project has been engineered as a high-capacity, high-safety expressway upgrade aimed at transforming regional connectivity between Mumbai and Pune.
A key highlight of the development is the Guinness World Records-verified widest underground road tunnel, measuring 22.33 meters in width. The infrastructure has been equipped with advanced safety systems, including comprehensive CCTV surveillance networks and modern fire-fighting technology to ensure emergency preparedness and operational safety.
Officials have stated that the project is expected to generate an economic impact of approximately ₹70,000 crore by improving logistics efficiency, reducing fuel consumption, and strengthening trade and tourism connectivity across the region.
However, despite the grand inauguration, the launch day witnessed severe traffic congestion due to the holiday rush, with delays extending for more than six hours on adjoining routes, highlighting ongoing demand pressures on the expressway corridor.
The completion of the Missing Link project is being viewed as a transformative step in Maharashtra’s transport infrastructure, offering a safer, faster, and more technologically advanced alternative route on one of India’s busiest expressways.
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