Traffic has been restored on the Pune-Mumbai Connecting Link Road late on Monday night after the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) completed extensive safety operations following landslide-related disruptions caused by heavy monsoon rainfall. According to MSRDC's official statement, traffic resumed at 10.10pm after safety inspections were completed at the landslide-hit site. The Mumbai-bound carriageway had been closed after a landslide near the exit of Tunnel 2, the longest tunnel on the Missing Link -- that cuts through the Sahyadri mountains at around 4 am. As reported by Business Standard, two left side lanes of the connecting link reopened to traffic from 10.10 pm, while the right lane remains blocked as water from mountain above continues to flow on the road after water channel collapsed.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi sharply reacted to the incident, highlighting the project's recent completion and substantial investment. As reported by NDTV Profit, Chaturvedi posted on X, "Missing link inaugurated: 1st May 2026. Cost of the project: ₹7,000 crore," followed by "6th July 2026: A major landslide occurred on the Missing Link section of the Mumbai–Pune Expressway." The ₹7,000 crore investment has raised questions about the durability of the recently completed infrastructure project, even as authorities continue restoration work amid ongoing heavy rainfall.
The landslide caused the collapse of a portion of the protective wall built to channel rainwater above the tunnel, with heavy rock, soil and water sliding down the slope and damaging the protection structure. However, as reported by Business Standard, the tunnel itself remained structurally safe, with traffic suspended purely as a precautionary measure. MSRDC officials explained that after the landslide, debris near Tunnel 2 was cleared by the afternoon, followed by detailed inspections of the slope above the tunnel to check for loose boulders and unstable material. Drone surveys were attempted but restricted by dense fog, heavy rain and strong winds, with traffic restored only after required safety and technical assessments were completed.
The landslide incident came amid a spell of intense monsoon activity across Maharashtra, which has affected road and rail connectivity in the Mumbai metropolitan region and surrounding areas in recent days. As reported by Business Standard, the expressway also witnessed landslides and flooding at other locations, including near the Urse tunnel, affecting vehicular movement. The old Mumbai-Pune Highway was also affected by waterlogging, with the diversion of Mumbai-bound traffic via the existing expressway through the Lonavala ghat section leading to massive traffic congestion during the day. The MSRDC advised commuters to avoid travel if they could and urged people to "stay safe" during the ongoing restoration efforts.
The Missing Link project features twin tunnels and cable-stayed bridges near Khandala and was opened to traffic on May 1, 2026. According to Business Standard, the Missing Link is a 13.3-km alignment on the busy 94-km-long expressway featuring two twin tunnels and a cable-stayed bridge. The project bypasses the winding Lonavala-Khandala ghat section and is designed to reduce the travel distance by 5.7 km and cut journey time between Mumbai and Pune by 20 to 30 minutes. The stretch had been inaugurated barely two months ago, making the landslide particularly concerning given the project's recent completion and the substantial public investment involved.
