Traffic movement on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway heading toward Mumbai came to a standstill near Lonavala on Wednesday, April 22, leaving thousands of commuters stranded for several hours in an extensive traffic jam stretching nearly five kilometres. Vehicles crawled slowly between the entry and exit points of Lonavala, leading to severe delays and growing frustration among travellers. Many motorists reported being stuck without any official updates regarding the reason behind the congestion. Several commuters claimed they remained trapped for hours with negligible movement. As the situation deteriorated over time, tempers flared, turning the usually picturesque hillside route into a stressful and exhausting journey for travellers.
According to officials, the congestion appears to be the result of multiple simultaneous factors affecting traffic flow in the region. Construction work related to the final phase of the “Missing Link” project is currently underway near Lonavala, being executed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation. Authorities are carrying out crucial finishing tasks, including the installation of crash barriers and road signage, which have necessitated lane closures and temporary traffic restrictions. Additionally, load testing of newly constructed bridges is being conducted using heavy vehicles, further slowing down traffic movement. A surge in tourist and local vehicular traffic, as the project approaches completion, has also contributed significantly to the prolonged congestion on the busy expressway stretch.
In other relevant updates about the expressway, vehicular movement on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway will be temporarily suspended on Thursday, April 23, and Friday, April 24, due to scheduled bridge maintenance work. The maintenance will be carried out by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation as part of essential infrastructure upkeep. Authorities have planned these closures to ensure safety during ongoing repair activities, which are necessary to maintain the structural integrity of the expressway. Commuters are advised to plan their journeys in advance and use alternate routes to avoid inconvenience during the shutdown period.
According to an official statement issued by MSRDC on Tuesday, the traffic block has been scheduled between 12 am and 3 pm on both days for shuttering removal and painting work on a bridge near Dongargaon-Kusgaon. On April 23, all Mumbai-bound traffic will remain completely suspended during these hours and will be diverted via the Kiwale-Dehu Road and Talegaon route, connecting to National Highway 48 before rejoining at the Kusgaon toll plaza. On April 24, Pune-bound traffic will be halted from 12 pm to 3 pm, with vehicles redirected from Kusgaon toll plaza through NH-48 via the Dehu Road–Kiwale route.