Mumbai-Pune Expressway: Tunnelling work for missing link begins

Maharashtra Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday has symbolically inaugurated the tunnel work for a six kilometers 'missing' link of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The plan foresees building twin tunnels to reduce the 19-kilometer distance of the expressway between Khopoli Exit to Sinhgad Institute by 6 kilometers, said the officials. However, there are already separate tunnels for traffic in both directions and a total of five tunnels of International Standard in the expressway. Two private firms were given tenders for the tunneling in August last year. The width of the tunnel is 24 meters, which is amongst the widest in the world. Shinde further stated that commuting between two of Maharashtra's biggest cities would ease out seemingly once the link is ready in three year's time. Shinde took to Twitter to announce the commencement of the project- #मुंबई - #पुणे मार्गातील #खोपोली ते #खंडाळा या घाट लांबीतील नवीन मार्गिके (Missing Link) सह मुंबई - पुणे द्रुतगती महामार्गाच्या रुंदीकरण व सुधारणा करणे आदी कामांची पहाणीकरिता आज प्रशासकीय अधिकाऱ्यांसोबत आयोजित दौऱ्या समयी बोगद्याच्या कामाकरिता सुरूंग लावण्यात आले. @MahaDGIPR pic.twitter.com/SXUKLscRlE — Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) September 8, 2019 READ | Stringent traffic rules aim at curbing road accidents: Gadkari The estimated cost Speaking about the expenditure on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway project, the officials said that the estimated cost for the same will be around Rs. 6,695 crore. The project will also have a 900-meter bridge and a cable-stayed structure of 650 meters, officials added. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway is presently a a 6-lane cement concrete road with a length of 94 kilometers. It meets National Highway 4 at the Khalapur Toll Plaza and separates near the Khandala exit. The stretch on which the Expressway and Highway meets is a bottle-neck as the vehicles from the two major roads converge on a narrow connector, prompting authorities to think of the 'missing' link. READ | Gujarat floods: 39 dead, 6500 evacuated, more than 15 concrete structures collapsed and roads caved in About Mumbai-Pune Expressway The Mumbai-Pune Expressway became fully operationalised in the year 2002. The then Maharashtra government gave the contract to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) in March 1997 on a build-operate-transfer basis with toll collection rights for a certain time period. It is India's first six-lane access control expressway with a speedy completion work. The project has also proposed fencing on both sides of the Expressway for the safety of the traffic compound wall. READ | Mumbai Rains: Wall collapse, flooded roads and overflowing lakes grip Thane City READ | Supreme Court clears Chardham highway project, forms fresh panel to suggest steps to mitigate environment damage (With Inputs from PTI)

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Mumbai-Pune Expressway: Tunnelling work for missing link begins

Maharashtra PWD Minister Eknath Shinde has inaugurated the Tunnel work for a 6 kms missing link of Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The plan entails twin tunnels

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