Mumbai: Traffic on the Mumbai-bound carriageway of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway’s 'Missing Link' bypass resumed on Monday night, following an 18-hour closure necessitated by a landslide triggered by persistent heavy rain.

An official from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) confirmed that the route reopened at 10:10 pm once safety assessments at the site were concluded. The carriageway had been shut since approximately 4 am, when a landslide occurred near the exit of Tunnel 2—the longest tunnel on the bypass through the Sahyadri mountains.

"Two left side lanes of the connecting (missing) link on Pune to Mumbai corridor reopened to traffic from 10.10 pm. The right lane remains blocked as water from mountain above is coming on the road after water channel collapsed," the official stated.

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According to MSRDC, the landslide resulted in the collapse of a protective wall designed to channel rainwater away from the tunnel. While a significant volume of rock, soil, and water descended onto the slope, the tunnel’s structural integrity remained unaffected. Authorities suspended traffic as a precautionary measure to allow for debris removal and slope stabilisation.

During the closure, traffic was diverted through the Lonavala ghat section of the existing expressway. This diversion, exacerbated by separate instances of waterlogging and minor landslides near Khalapur and the Urse tunnel, caused severe congestion throughout the day.

MSRDC engineers conducted comprehensive inspections of the slope above Tunnel 2 to identify potential risks from loose boulders. Persistent rainfall, high winds, and low visibility hampered these efforts, including the use of drone surveys, which were ultimately restricted by the adverse weather.

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"The tunnel was reopened for traffic only after all safety and technical assessments were completed, and the area was declared safe for vehicular movement," the MSRDC stated.

The Chief Minister’s Office noted the resumption of service on the social media platform X, stating: "Traffic is resumed at the 'Connecting Link'; vehicular movement is restored. Government is trying its best. Stay safe, everyone !"

The 'Missing Link', inaugurated on 1 May, is a 13.3-kilometre stretch featuring twin tunnels and a cable-stayed bridge. It is designed to bypass the traditional Lonavala-Khandala ghat route, reducing travel distance by 5.7 kilometres and shortening commute times between Mumbai and Pune by approximately 20 to 30 minutes.

With inputs from PTI