Pune: Traffic came to a grinding halt on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Thursday morning as heavy rainfall and multiple diversions led to severe congestion, leaving commuters stranded for hours.
All lanes on the high-speed corridor were briefly choked due to waterlogging and rerouting of vehicles, bringing traffic movement to a complete standstill. A video posted by X user @rushikesh_agre_ highlighted the chaos, showing a long line of immobile vehicles stretching across several kilometers. In his post, he cautioned others against traveling unless necessary, citing the total blockage of lanes.
The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, India’s first access-controlled expressway, is a critical connector between the financial hub of Mumbai and the tech-industrial city of Pune. However, its increasing usage—especially on weekends and public holidays—has led to frequent traffic jams, prompting concerns about capacity and road safety.
In response to the growing congestion, authorities have proposed expanding the expressway into a 10-lane highway. This plan, currently in its preliminary phase, aims to reduce bottlenecks, enhance safety, and shorten travel times for the ever-increasing number of commuters.
Stretching 94.5 kilometers, the expressway plays a vital role in regional commerce and daily travel. The proposed infrastructure upgrade is expected to significantly alleviate the mounting pressure on this key arterial route.
