MSRDC Terms Mumbai-Pune Missing Link Landslide an ‘Act of God’; Says Extreme Rainfall Triggered Incident
Pune, 6th July 2026: The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has termed the landslide on the newly inaugurated Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link an “Act of God”, attributing the incident to unprecedented heavy rainfall rather than any engineering or construction failure. The statement has sparked discussion after a section of the newly opened ₹6,695-crore project was hit by a landslide, temporarily disrupting traffic between Mumbai and Pune.
The landslide occurred at around 3:30 a.m. on Monday near the end of the first tunnel on the Pune-to-Mumbai carriageway of the Missing Link project. Large boulders rolled down the hillside following intense rainfall, damaging the protective structure near the entrance of Tunnel No. 2 and rendering the stretch temporarily unsafe for vehicular movement.
Speaking on the incident, MSRDC Vice Chairman and Managing Director Anilkumar Gaikwad said the contractor was not responsible for the landslide.
“There is no fault on the part of the contractor. This is purely an act of nature. We had incorporated engineering measures and designs to prevent landslides, but such systems also have their limitations under extreme weather conditions,” Gaikwad said.
Another senior MSRDC official described the incident as an “Act of God”, stating that all recommended rockfall protection measures had already been implemented.
“Rockfall protection measures certified by IIT Bombay, including rock bolting and steel mesh up to a height of 15 metres, have been installed and remain intact. However, the boulders that fell originated from nearly 150 metres above. With rainfall of this magnitude, there is very little that can be done to stop such a landslide,” the official said.
The official added that after the rain subsides, engineers will inspect the hillside to assess whether the protective mesh can be extended to higher elevations. However, the proposed work would be costly and may require permission to use adjoining forest land.
MSRDC clarified that while the main tunnel structure remains undamaged, the landslide damaged the false frame, an external structural component around the tunnel entrance. The corporation has initiated restoration work and said necessary safety measures will be undertaken before the affected carriageway is fully reopened.
The Mumbai-Pune Missing Link, inaugurated about two months ago, was built to reduce travel time and improve connectivity between the two cities. The incident has nevertheless raised concerns about the resilience of infrastructure in hilly terrain during extreme monsoon conditions and the adequacy of existing landslide mitigation measures.
