Major Boost for Mumbai–Pune Expressway as India’s Tallest Cable Bridge Enters Final Phase

Mumbai/Pune, 9th December 2025: Motorists travelling between Mumbai and Pune will soon enjoy a much faster journey, with the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) announcing that India’s tallest cable-stayed bridge—part of the ambitious “Missing Link” project—is now 94% complete. The project is expected to be operational by April 2026, cutting travel time by nearly 25 minutes on the busy expressway.

The signature 182-metre-high bridge, rising between two mountain peaks in the Sahyadri range, is designed to straighten the winding ghat section. The current 19-km stretch between Khopoli Exit and Sinhagad Institute will reduce to 13.3 km, offering a smoother, shorter passage for motorists.

Key Components of the Missing Link
The large-scale infrastructure initiative comprises:
-Two tunnels with a combined length of 11 km
-Two cable-stayed bridges totalling nearly 2 km
-Each bridge spans about 850 metres and is 26 metres wide, built in two stages

The new structure will enable vehicles to bypass a steep 132-metre elevation, cutting directly through the mountains instead of following the longer ghat curve.

Officials highlighted that the bridge’s height surpasses the Bandra–Worli Sea Link’s cable-stayed towers by 55 metres. Construction agency Afcons Infrastructure has deployed four 182-metre tower cranes to build the massive pylons anchoring the bridge deck.

The bridge is engineered to endure severe weather and high wind loads while enabling vehicles to travel at speeds of up to 100 km/h. Its design has undergone rigorous international testing.

Constructing an elevated structure in the challenging terrain of the Sahyadris has tested engineers and workers alike.
The site routinely experiences:
-Strong, unpredictable winds
-Dense fog reducing visibility
-Heavy monsoon rains that stall work for nearly four months

Teams often wait for favourable conditions before proceeding, making progress dependent on fog clearance and wind stability. Despite these constraints, work has moved steadily toward completion.

With tunnel excavation nearly finished, the project has entered its last phase, focusing on completing the bridge deck and structural components. Once operational, the new alignment is expected to ease congestion, improve safety, and enhance travel efficiency on one of India’s most important intercity corridors.