Mumbai–Pune Expressway Missing Link: AI-Equipped Tunnels to Boost Safety, Cut Travel Time
Lonavala, 14th April 2026: The much-awaited ‘Missing Link’ project on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway is likely to open for traffic from May 1, coinciding with Maharashtra Day
.
The 13.3-km stretch, currently in its final stages, features some of Asia’s widest tunnels equipped with advanced AI-based automated safety systems. The project is expected to significantly reduce travel time and improve safety for commuters.
The tunnels are fitted with smart systems that enable real-time monitoring of fire, smoke, and toxic gases. In case of a vehicle fire, sensors installed along the tunnel walls will activate within seconds, triggering a high-pressure water-mist fire suppression system to control the blaze.
A linear heat-detection cable runs across the tunnel, with nozzles installed at intervals of every four metres. These nozzles can spray around 36.5 litres of water per minute to quickly contain fire incidents. Alerts will also be sent to the control room, while digital display boards will guide motorists and regulate traffic.
Air quality inside the tunnels will be continuously monitored. Jet fans, with a reach of up to 200 metres and operating at speeds of 1,500 RPM, will help regulate airflow. If levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, or other toxic gases rise, the system will automatically adjust ventilation to maintain safe conditions.
For emergencies, help buttons have been installed every 60 metres, along with SOS call boxes every 150 metres. A network of CCTV cameras will monitor speed and traffic movement.
The project, estimated to cost around Rs 6,600–6,700 crore, will bypass the 19-km ghat section between Khopoli and Lonavala, making travel faster and safer on one of Maharashtra’s busiest routes.
