Mumbai-Pune Expressway’s ‘Missing Link’ Renamed As ‘Connecting Link’ After Inauguration

The newly opened 13-km stretch with India’s widest road tunnel is expected to cut travel time by up to 30 minutes and improve safety on the ghat route.

The long-awaited “Missing Link” project on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway has officially been renamed as the “Connecting Link” after its inauguration by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on May 1, 2026.

Following the opening of the 13-km stretch, which includes an 8.92-km tunnel, digital signboards and electronic display boards on the expressway have started displaying the new name “Connecting Link.” However, some roadside and traffic signboards still carry the old “Missing Link” name and are expected to be updated soon.

The project was earlier called the “Missing Link” because it was an incomplete section designed to bypass the busy and accident-prone Khandala ghat route. Now that the project is fully operational, it provides a smooth and direct connection between Mumbai and Pune, leading to the new name “Connecting Link.”

The newly opened corridor is expected to reduce travel time by around 20 to 30 minutes and improve commuter safety by avoiding sharp curves, steep slopes, and traffic bottlenecks in the ghat section. The project also includes the world’s widest underground road tunnel, measuring 23 metres, along with modern safety features such as CCTV cameras, ventilation systems, and emergency exits every 300 metres.

Officials say the project will boost connectivity between Mumbai and Pune and support economic growth in Maharashtra by improving transport, tourism, and industrial movement.