Tunnel Collapse on Mumbai-Pune Expressway Sparks Traffic Chaos

Mumbai: A portion of the newly inaugurated Missing Link tunnel on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway collapsed on Monday after heavy rain, triggering massive traffic congestion and disrupting movement on one of Maharashtra's busiest highways.

The cave-in occurred less than two months after the Rs 7,000-crore infrastructure project was opened to the public. The 19-km Missing Link, developed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), was designed to shorten travel time between Mumbai and Pune by around 20 to 25 minutes.

The incident left thousands of commuters stranded for hours as traffic came to a halt in both directions. Water flowing from the damaged section of the tunnel also led to waterlogging on parts of the expressway, prompting safety concerns for motorists.

The MSRDC advised commuters to avoid travelling on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway until the situation was brought under control.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the collapse was caused by exceptionally heavy rainfall that triggered a landslide at the site. He said more than 100 tonnes of debris had fallen onto the roadway and added that emergency teams, including the fire brigade and other government agencies, were deployed immediately to clear the obstruction and restore traffic.

The incident also intensified political criticism of the BJP-led Mahayuti government, with Opposition parties questioning the quality of construction.