Mumbai: Traffic has been severely impacted on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway due to a massive landslide near the Missing Link project area. The administrative machinery is currently working on a war footing to clear the debris. In light of the situation, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has appealed to citizens to avoid traveling on the Mumbai–Pune route unless absolutely necessary.
CM Fadnavis, who reviewed the ongoing debris removal work and also the situation due to incessant rain across Maharashtra, told reporters that approximately 100 tonnes of debris had accumulated at the landslide site.
Notably, this incident occurred in an area that had never experienced a landslide before. So far, teams have successfully cleared about 70 tonnes of debris, and work is underway at a rapid pace to remove the remaining blockages, he said.
Currently, three lanes on the corridor leading towards Pune have been opened for traffic. However, on the corridor heading towards Mumbai, traffic is functional through only a single lane.
The Chief Minister informed that emergency mechanisms are making concerted efforts to restore additional lanes within the next hour-and-a-half.
According to CM, Minister for Public Works Department (PWD) Shivendraraje Bhosale is present at the spot to review the operations, while relevant departments, agencies, and emergency response teams are working in close coordination.
He has urged citizens to adhere to administrative instructions, travel strictly according to the guidance provided by the traffic police, and rely only on official information.
Earlier, traffic on the Pune-to-Mumbai on the Mumbai Pune expressway’s newly-opened Missing Link was diverted early on Monday after a landslide occurred near the exit of Tunnel 2 following heavy rainfall.
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRDC) in a statement said the diversion came into effect at 4 am as a precautionary measure to ensure commuter safety. Authorities are monitoring the situation in coordination with the Highway Traffic Police and have urged motorists to avoid travelling on the route unless essential.
MSRDC further stated, “Due to landslides and continuous heavy rainfall, traffic on both the Pune–Mumbai Expressway and the old Mumbai–Pune highway has been severely affected. Traffic in both directions—Pune–Mumbai and Mumbai–Pune—has been completely closed until further orders. Citizens are urged not to travel between Pune–Mumbai or Mumbai–Pune until further notice. In case of absolutely essential travel, please follow the traffic advisories and updated information issued by the administration from time to time. Citizens are requested to cooperate.”
According to MSRDC, the work is underway to clear the debris in the Missing Link and the citizens will be informed after it is completed.
It has appealed to the public to immediately suspend any non-essential travel between the twin cities.
According to regional traffic management, alternative routes through the hills are also facing severe water logging, compounding the gridlock.
“Emergency response teams, including highway police and disaster management units, have been dispatched to the heavily impacted sections to clear debris and monitor structural stability. However, restoration operations are significantly slowed by active, hazardous weather conditions and the ongoing risk of secondary landslides.
“Motorists already en route are being advised by local highway patrols to park at designated safe transit points, check official state notifications, and avoid moving towards the ghat segments until clearance explicitly tracking a re-opening is authorised by state agencies,” said the MSRDC.
(IANS)
