Officials reported that nearly 70 per cent of light motor vehicles have shifted to the new corridor, significantly reducing the burden on the older Borghat section. At the same time, only around 30 per cent of heavy motor vehicles continue to use the original route, resulting in smoother traffic movement and a substantial decline in congestion.
The separation of vehicle categories has played a crucial role in improving both traffic flow and road safety. Heavy vehicles are currently not permitted to use the newly opened link, allowing private cars and other light vehicles to travel on a flatter and more efficient alignment. Authorities said this arrangement has reduced operational pressure on both stretches of the expressway and created safer driving conditions.
Significantly, officials confirmed that no major accident or mishap has been reported either on the new connecting corridor or on the Borghat section since the route was opened. The Borghat stretch has long been regarded as one of the most dangerous sections of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway due to its steep gradients, sharp curves and intense traffic movement.
The 19.84-kilometre corridor connects Khopoli in Raigad district with Kusgaon near Pune and was officially inaugurated on May 1. Constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 6,700 crore, the project has reduced the overall distance between Mumbai and Pune by nearly six kilometres and cut travel time by around 30 minutes.
Designed with minimal gradients and elevations, the new alignment allows vehicles to maintain smoother and more consistent speeds than the older ghat section. A major engineering feature of the project is an eight-lane carriageway extending 5.86 kilometres, replacing a previous six-lane bottleneck that had long slowed traffic.
The older Pune-bound Borghat carriageway was notorious for severe congestion as vehicles frequently lost speed while climbing steep inclines. On the Mumbai-bound side, downhill slopes had witnessed numerous accidents after drivers lost control of their vehicles. Heavy motor vehicles were considered a major contributing factor to both congestion and road safety concerns.
The project was executed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation and took nearly seven years to complete after work commenced in 2019. Prior to the opening of the missing link, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway regularly experienced long traffic snarls at key tourist and transit points such as Lonavala and Khandala. The new alignment now bypasses these chronic choke points, significantly improving travel efficiency.
Highway Safety Patrol Borghat unit Assistant Police Inspector Swapnil Patil said that approximately 70 per cent of vehicles had shifted from the old Borghat route to the newly opened corridor. He stated that the diversion of light motor vehicles has substantially reduced the likelihood of traffic jams, while heavy vehicles continue to use the earlier stretch.
Officials also noted that private vehicles are benefiting from the flatter road surface, which reduces engine overheating during uphill travel. Meanwhile, heavy vehicles now have greater road space on the old Borghat section, improving overall movement and allowing highway patrol teams to focus less on frequent rescue and accident response operations.
The opening of the missing link represents one of Maharashtra's most significant highway infrastructure achievements in recent years. By eliminating chronic congestion, reducing accident risks and shortening travel time between Mumbai and Pune, the project has transformed one of India's busiest expressways into a faster, safer and more efficient transportation corridor.
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