Pune-Mumbai Expressway Faces Weekend Traffic Congestion Following Major Disruption
Days after a massive 32-hour traffic disruption paralyzed the Pune-Mumbai Expressway, the crucial transportation artery connecting India's two major metros has once again experienced significant traffic snarls over the weekend. The latest congestion occurred despite authorities working to restore normalcy following one of the longest traffic halts in the expressway's history.
Weekend Traffic Slowdown in Ghat Section
The traffic slowdown was particularly pronounced in the challenging ghat section of the expressway, spanning from Lonavala in Pune district to Khopoli in Raigad district. Commuters reported travel times doubling during the weekend, with journeys that typically take 30 to 35 minutes extending to 60 to 80 minutes on both Saturday and Sunday.
"While the traffic did slow down due to the weekend rush on Saturday and Sunday in the ghat section, the vehicles kept moving. There was no major traffic jam per se," clarified a highway police officer, emphasizing that while congestion was significant, complete gridlock was avoided.
Recent Major Disruption Still Fresh in Memory
The weekend congestion comes just days after the expressway experienced one of its most severe disruptions ever recorded. On February 3, a tanker transporting highly flammable propylene gas overturned near the entrance of the Adoshi Tunnel on the Mumbai-bound corridor, creating a dangerous situation that required immediate action.
The incident, which occurred around 5 PM, forced authorities to completely shut down the Pune to Mumbai corridor after detecting a gas leak from the overturned Bharat Petroleum tanker. The resulting traffic standstill lasted over 30 hours, with vehicle queues stretching beyond 20 kilometers and causing major distress to thousands of commuters, many of whom were stranded for more than 15 hours.
Emergency Response and Traffic Management
Following the February 3 incident, emergency teams from Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were immediately deployed to the location. Their efforts to control the gas leak necessitated stopping traffic on both corridors of the expressway for safety reasons.
Traffic from affected areas was diverted to the Old Pune-Mumbai Highway, which forms part of National Highway 48. This diversion caused additional congestion on the alternative route, compounding transportation challenges in the region.
When asked about the weekend traffic situation, Superintendent of Police Vikrant Deshmukh of the State Highway Police explained, "The weekends generally report a surge in the number of vehicles on both corridors of the Expressway. This generally leads to traffic slowing down in the ghat section. We ensure deployment of maximum possible strength on ground to handle the situation."
Historical Context and Future Solutions
The 94-kilometer Pune-Mumbai Expressway, which became operational in the early 2000s, has become a vital transportation link between Maharashtra's two largest cities. Before its construction, the Old Mumbai-Pune Highway (National Highway 48) served as the only direct road connection between the metros.
The expressway's ghat sections have been particularly prone to traffic congestion due to high volumes of both passenger and heavy commercial vehicles navigating the challenging terrain with sharp turns. In response to these persistent challenges, authorities have been developing the Missing Link project between Pune and Mumbai.
This ambitious infrastructure project has been specifically designed to bypass the congested Lonavala-Khandala ghat section through an elevated corridor and tunnel system. Once completed, the Missing Link is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities by approximately 25-30 minutes and significantly alleviate traffic pressure on the problematic ghat sections.
The recent incidents highlight the ongoing challenges facing this critical transportation corridor and underscore the importance of both immediate traffic management strategies and long-term infrastructure solutions to ensure smoother connectivity between Pune and Mumbai.
