Mumbai-Pune Expressway Tunnel Collapse Halts Traffic; Opposition Alleges Shoddy Work

Mumbai: Traffic on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway was disrupted for several hours on Monday after a section of the Missing Link Tunnel collapsed following heavy rainfall, leaving thousands of vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway.

The affected tunnel is part of the ₹7,000-crore, 19-km Missing Link project being developed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). The project is designed to reduce travel time between Mumbai and Pune by 20 to 25 minutes.

The tunnel collapse, which occurred just days after the project’s inauguration, has raised serious concerns over the quality of construction and execution.

Following the incident, Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders alleged corruption and substandard workmanship in the project, demanding a thorough investigation into the collapse and accountability for those responsible.