CM Fadnavis Orders Probe Into 32-Hour Mumbai–Pune Expressway Traffic Chaos
Pune, 6th February 2026: In the wake of the massive 32-hour traffic standstill on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a formal inquiry and directed the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to prepare a long-term emergency response plan to handle such incidents in the future.
An official from the Chief Minister’s Office said the state government has sought a detailed report from MSRDC on how the situation was handled. “The Chief Minister has asked for a comprehensive review of the incident and the response mechanisms that were in place at the time,” the official said.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also stepped in, instructing MSRDC and the police to draft a special emergency traffic management strategy for the expressway. In a statement, Shinde stressed the need to fast-track the Missing Link project, which is expected to provide a safer and faster alternative route.
“The Missing Link will not only cut down travel time but also act as a lifeline during emergencies. Its completion must be treated as a top priority,” Shinde said.
The disruption was triggered when a tanker transporting highly inflammable propylene overturned near the Adoshi Tunnel in the Borghat stretch of the Khandala ghat section on Tuesday around 4.45 pm. The accident occurred just a short distance before the tunnel on the Mumbai-bound lane, forcing authorities to shut down the corridor for safety reasons.
As a result, nearly 15 km of the expressway was completely jammed, while the impact was felt over a stretch of almost 50 km. Thousands of commuters, including families and long-distance travellers, were stranded for hours without food, water or clear information. The Mumbai-bound carriageway was finally reopened in the early hours of Thursday.
Opposition leaders criticised the government and toll operators for continuing to collect toll fees from vehicles that remained stuck for several hours. “People were helpless and trapped. Charging them toll in such a situation is unacceptable,” said a senior opposition leader.
Meanwhile, the long-pending Missing Link project is now being seen as a key solution to prevent similar crises. The project is designed to bypass the accident-prone Lonavala ghat section and is expected to be operational in the next four to five months.
Once completed, the Missing Link will add four lanes in each direction, running parallel to the existing ghat stretch, which currently has three lanes per side. Officials say this will significantly improve road capacity and reduce dependence on a single vulnerable alignment.
“The present ghat section has sharp curves, steep slopes and narrow stretches. One tanker breakdown is enough to bring the entire expressway to a halt,” said a senior MSRDC official. “The Missing Link has been engineered to remove these choke points. Even if a heavy vehicle stalls, traffic will continue to move.”
Another official added that the new route will feature long tunnels, elevated viaducts and valley bridges, including one of the tallest road bridges in the country. “It avoids landslide-prone zones and dangerous bends. From a safety and disaster-management perspective, it is a game changer,” the official said.
With finishing work and final safety inspections underway, the government hopes the Missing Link will mark the end of repeated gridlocks on one of Maharashtra’s busiest highways.
