Mumbai-Pune Expressway: Work on 'missing link' is 95 per cent complete, say officials as Shinde reviews project

Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde instructed engineers and officials to carry out the final bridge work with utmost care and no compromise on quality

The work on the much-awaited ‘missing link' project on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway has reached 95 per cent completion, the officials said on Monday as Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde held a project review meeting in the city.

The final stage involving construction of the tallest bridge in the project was now underway, an official statement said.

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At a review meeting held at Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai, Eknath Shinde instructed engineers and officials to carry out the final bridge work with utmost care and no compromise on quality.

"This is a critical phase. The tallest bridge must be built with continuous safety testing, especially considering wind pressure and height," Shinde said.

The review meeting was attended by Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse, Soil and Water Conservation Minister Sanjay Rathod, Minister of State for Public Works Meghna Bordikar, Deputy CM's Principal Secretary Naveen Sona, and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited (MSRDC) Managing Director Anil Gaikwad, among other senior officials, the statement said.

The 13.3 km-long 'missing link' is divided into Package 1 and 2.

The final stage focuses on constructing a high-altitude bridge, which will significantly improve travel time, it said.

Once completed, the new link is expected to reduce travel time between Mumbai and Pune by 20 to 25 minutes.

Shinde emphasised that no shortcuts should be taken, especially with safety and testing.

"Work must be tested at every level," he said.

The missing link project is seen as a major step towards easing congestion and improving road safety on one of busiest expressways in the state.

Elphinstone Bridge row: Residents of all 19 buildings to get homes at same location, announces Maharashtra govt

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government on Monday announced that it will redevelop 19 buildings in the area and provide them with new homes at the same location, an official statement said.

According to the statement, the decision was taken in a high-level meeting chaired by Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and attended by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at the Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai amid the ongoing Elphinstone Bridge row.

Senior officials from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), etc were also present at the meeting, the statement said.

Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar said that local Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Kalidas Kolambkar and a delegation of residents had requested that the redevelopment take place without displacing them from the area.