Christmas Rush Causes Massive Traffic Jam on Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Cleared After 36 Hours Effort
Lonavala, 24th December 2023: The Mumbai-Pune Expressway witnessed an unprecedented traffic jam lasting over 36 hours, creating chaos and inconvenience for travelers during the consecutive Christmas holidays. The influx of tourists from Mumbai, taking advantage of the extended weekend, resulted in heavy congestion around Lonavala, particularly in areas around Khalapur toll plaza, Khandala Ghat, and Urse toll plaza.
The traffic nightmare began on Friday morning as numerous families embarked on road trips to explore the picturesque Lonavala. However, the joyous journey turned into a challenge as engines overheated while climbing the Khandala Ghat, leading to vehicle breakdowns and queues extending up to the Khalapur toll booth. The situation worsened on Saturday morning, with motorists struggling to navigate the slow-moving traffic.
Highway police, including Borghat Highway Police, Khopoli Police, Khandala Highway Police, and Vadgaon Maval Highway Police, worked tirelessly to alleviate the congestion. Mumbai-bound vehicles were halted in the Khandala tunnel area, contributing to the efforts to streamline traffic. The collaboration of social organizations such as IRB and angel teams further assisted in managing the chaotic situation.
The traffic snarl not only disrupted the holiday plans of many but also led to challenges for those stranded in the ghat area. Technical failures causing cars to stop resulted in a standstill on the expressway from Friday, with queues stretching back to Khalapur toll booth. The lack of amenities like water left children, women, and senior citizens facing difficulties.
Finally, on Sunday afternoon, after more than 36 hours of relentless efforts by the highway police and social organizations, traffic on the expressway returned to normal. Authorities anticipate that the completion of the missing link between Lonavla and Khalapur will ease the ghat area’s congestion, but this improvement is expected to take at least a year to materialize.
