Connect with us
Wednesday,12-August-2026
Breaking News

Maharashtra

Mumbai-Pune Expressway To Get New Link Road, Travel Time Set To Reduce By 25 Minutes From April 2026

Published

on

Mumbai: The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is set to unveil a new link project on the Mumbai – Pune expressway between Khalapur and Lonavala on the 1st of April 2026. This ₹6,695.37-crore project, involving a cable-stayed bridge and a complex network of tunnels, will reduce the expressway length by 6km, cutting commute time between these two economic hubs by 25 minutes.

The initiative aims to reduce traffic between Khalapur and Lonavala and ease congestion in areas near Lonavala and Khandala. This stretch is often congested, especially on weekends and holidays, increasing commute time.

The existing expressway has been widened from six to eight lanes over a 5.86-km stretch, between the Khalapur toll plaza and the Khopoli exit. An entirely new 13.3-km, eight-lane alignment is also being constructed between the Khopoli exit and Kusgaon near the Sinhagad Institute.

The new link includes two tunnels, measuring 1.68 km and 8.87 km and has two bridges, spanning 900 metres and 650 metres. Once the link is ready, the distance between Khopoli and Sinhagad Institute will reduce from 19 km to 13.3 km.

Originally due in January 2026, completion was delayed to April 2026 because of engineering and weather challenges.

“The project is now targeted for completion by April 1, 2026. The revised timeline accounts for the complexity of the terrain and difficult working conditions,” an MSRDC official told Media.

This project has had multiple revised deadlines in the past, with earlier timelines set for March 2024, January 2025, March 2025, September 2025 and December 2025.

MSRDC officials have stated that the work is 98.8% completed and that the electrical and mechanical testing and commissioning are underway. Currently, the construction of one bridge has been completed, while the work on the second bridge is underway with girder erection and deck slab work around 90% done. The expressway between Khalapur and Khopoli has been widened, along with augmentation work at the Talegaon and Shedung toll plazas. However, the expansion of the Khalapur toll plaza is still ongoing.

The initiative was approved in August 2018 by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Infrastructure.  

Maharashtra

Mumbai : There is no solution to the problem of landslides in the last 15 years, 22,483 families live in dangerous areas in the city and suburbs

Published

on

Mumbai: Hill collapses are not new to Mumbai, but the state government has failed to take serious steps to address the problem in the last 15 years. In the last 34 years, 340 people have lost their lives and over 300 have been injured in landslides.

In 25 of Mumbai’s 36 assembly constituencies, 257 places in hilly areas have been classified as dangerous. RTI activist Anil Gilgali said that the Mumbai Slum Improvement Board had recommended the relocation of 9,657 out of 22,483 identified slums on priority basis. It had also proposed to make the remaining slums safe by building protective walls around the hills. Gilgali had earlier warned the Maharashtra government about the risk of landslides at 327 places during the monsoon season.

Between 1992 and 2026, 340 people died and over 300 were injured in landslides. The Mumbai Slum Improvement Board had recommended relocation. A comprehensive survey was conducted in 2010. If action had been taken then, the deaths of the residents of these hilly areas could have been prevented. Following the board’s report and Anil Gilgali’s correspondence, the then Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan ordered the Urban Development Department to prepare an action plan on September 1, 2011. However, 15 years have passed since then, and the Urban Development Department is yet to start working on it. In other words, no one has prepared an ‘Action Taken Plan’ (ATP) as directed by the Chief Minister,

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Robbery in Mumbai Saki Naka, 4 arrested, stolen goods recovered

Published

on

Mumbai: The Sakinaka police have claimed to have solved the mystery of the robbery at the junk shop of the complainant, Mohammed Hussain Abdul Karim, and arrested the accused. 22 kg of silver and cash worth a total of Rs 44 lakh were stolen from the junk shop. The shop was located in Anise Compound. The police had registered a complaint regarding this. On this basis, the Mumbai Police’s detection team tracked down the thieves and arrested four accused and claimed to have seized silver worth Rs 44 lakh and a mobile phone. The accused have been identified as Maqsood Shah, 20, a resident of Sakinaka in Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, Zeeshan Abdul Subhan, 20, a resident of Mumbra, Daighar, Akhbar Hussain Ghulam Murtaza, 27, Mumbra, and Irfan Noorullah Khan, 26, Siddharth Nagar, UP. The four accused have been arrested and the stolen goods have been recovered. This operation was carried out by DCP Dutta Nalawade on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

37 unauthorized shops removed from footpaths in Vakola area, action taken by BMC ‘H East’ ward under ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign

Published

on

Mumbai: The Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is implementing the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign to ensure that pedestrians can walk on the footpaths with ease. As part of this initiative, action was taken to remove 37 unauthorised shops obstructing the footpaths along Rajendra Kamble Marg in Vakola area yesterday (August 11, 2026). The operation was carried out by the ‘H East’ ward of BMC. As per the directions of the High Court and under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide. BMC is effectively implementing the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign to clear the footpaths of unauthorised hawkers and encroachments, thus making them free from obstructions. In this backdrop, the footpaths along Rajendra Kamble Marg in Vakola were cleared during an operation led by Assistant Commissioner (H East Ward) Smt. Mr. Mridula Ande, Deputy Commissioner (Zone-3) under the guidance of Shri Vishwas Mote. During this drive, 37 unauthorized shops erected on footpaths were removed, and materials obstructing the walkways were seized.

The operation was carried out with the support of about 31 officers and staff members using 4 vehicles, 2 dumpers, 1 JCB and other machinery. Adequate police security was deployed during the drive.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation continues to implement measures to ensure the availability of accessible footpaths for pedestrians. Therefore, unauthorized constructions or placement of materials obstructing footpaths are prohibited. The Municipal Corporation administration has said that strict action will be taken if such incidents are found.

Continue Reading

Trending