Pune-Mumbai Expressway Choked: Long Weekend Rush, Inauguration Trigger Massive Traffic Jam

Mumbai– Thousands of commuters faced severe delays on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway on Friday morning as a combination of long weekend travel and the inauguration of a key infrastructure project led to a massive traffic jam.

The congestion stretched across several sections of the highway, with vehicles crawling or remaining stationary for over two hours. A large number of travellers were heading out of Mumbai towards popular hill destinations like Mahabaleshwar, adding to the pressure on the already busy route.

The situation worsened due to the inauguration of the much-anticipated “Missing Link” project, a new alignment designed to bypass a difficult 19.8-kilometre stretch known for sharp curves and accident-prone zones. The project, featuring tunnels and bridges, is expected to ease travel in the long run but its launch coincided with peak holiday movement on Maharashtra Day.

Authorities had put diversions and security measures in place for the event, but the sudden spike in traffic volume overwhelmed arrangements, resulting in long queues and confusion among commuters.

Among those caught in the gridlock was Member of Parliament Supriya Sule, who expressed concern over the lack of coordination. Travellers also voiced frustration, saying the timing of the inauguration on a busy travel day disrupted their plans.

Many commuters reported being stuck for hours without clear communication or traffic updates, as authorities struggled to manage the unprecedented rush.

While the new expressway section is expected to significantly reduce travel time once fully operational, Friday’s chaos highlighted the challenges of handling large-scale traffic surges during major public events.