The inauguration of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway ‘Missing Link’ was supposed to be a masterclass in infrastructure. Instead, Day 1 has been defined by two things: a grueling six-hour traffic jam and a blatant disregard for new traffic regulations.
Since the start of the day today social media has been flooded with videos of people complaining about an endless stretch of traffic on the much frequented Mumbai Pune expressway due to a ‘poor coordination of the missing link inauguration’.
Following the formal inauguration of the missing link extension of the Mumbai Pune expressway by Eknath Shinde, reports of violation of a ban on heavy trucks and multi-axle vehicles cruising through the new stretch despite an explicit ban to prevent accidents have surfaced on the internet.
While the new route was marketed as a shortcut for commuters and carried a ban for the transportation of heavy vehicles and trucks for the first sixth months of its existence, reports from sites like PuneMirror and viral clips show heavy tonnage vehicles occupying lanes meant for light motor vehicles (LMVs).
As per a PuneMirror report, only LMVs, buses, and passenger vehicles are permitted on this route for the first six months. The ban on heavy vehicles is slated to remain in place until October 31, 2026.
Commuters already reeling from the morning’s six-hour “Inauguration Jam” expressed outrage as trucks were seen bypassing the old ghat route. “We sat in the heat for hours to let the VVIPs cut ribbons, and now the rules don’t even apply to the trucks?” one traveler said on X.
Why are heavy vehicles not allowed to travel on the new stretch?
The restrictions aren’t just about traffic flow; they are rooted in safety concerns as official bodies like MSRDC, Highway Police and RTO are presently mandated to assess the flow of traffic on the new stretch before allowing access to heavy vehicles.
The entire stretch is under 24×7 CCTV surveillance, with PTZ cameras installed across tunnels and viaducts to monitor movement continuously following a harrowing accident involving a propylene gas tanker near the Adoshi tunnel two months ago.