Mumbai-bound lane of Mumbai-Pune Expressway 'Missing Link' reopens after landslide
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The Mumbai-bound portion of the Khopoli-Kusgaon Missing Link reopened on Monday night following a closure caused by heavy rain and landslides. The ₹7,000-crore project was inaugurated only months ago and is now facing calls for an independent audit.
Amalgamated from Livemint (opens in new tab), NDTV (opens in new tab), Livemint (opens in new tab)
The Mumbai-bound lane of the Khopoli-Kusgaon section on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway reopened late Monday night following a closure that lasted more than 18 hours. The road was closed due to a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall in the region.
This specific stretch, referred to as the "Missing Link," is identified by both Livemint and NDTV as one of the most technically challenging portions of the expressway project. The infrastructure work is valued at ₹7,000 crore and was inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis only a few months ago.
The occurrence of the landslide so shortly after the official opening has led to calls for oversight regarding the construction's durability. Livemint reports that members of the Congress party are seeking an independent audit of the project’s engineering and safety standards. Local officials confirmed that traffic was resumed on the Mumbai-bound side once debris was removed and the roadway was deemed safe for vehicle use.
Why this matters
The incident highlights concerns regarding the durability and construction quality of high-value infrastructure projects immediately following their completion. The calls for an independent audit may set a precedent for how newly opened state roads are monitored for safety in monsoon-prone regions.
What's confirmed / what isn't
All three news sources agree on the location of the landslide, the duration of the closure, and the recent inauguration of the project. The specific call for an independent audit is reported as a demand from the Congress party.
Background
The 'Missing Link' refers to the Khopoli-Kusgaon stretch of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, a major highway in Maharashtra, India. It was designed to improve connectivity and reduce travel times between Mumbai and Pune.