‘

To reduce travel

time, for smooth traffic flow

Mumbai, 01 May

(HS): Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dedicated the ‘Missing Link’ on

Mumbai-Pune highway, which would reduce the travel time by about 30 minutes.

Fadnavis said that although popularly called the Missing Link it should infact

be called ‘Connecting Link’. Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra

Pawar were present.

The project

started in 2002 on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway connects hilly terrain between

Khalapur and Kusgaon, a stretch of 13.3 km avoid difficulties in travelling in

the hilly region and several sharp curves on the road. The link will be open

for light motor vehicles only. The link will prevent road blockade, accidents

and sharp curves, making the travel safe and smooth. It will also prevent

closure of road due to heavy rains during monsoon or landslides. The new link

is will also avoid frequent road blockages near Adoshi Tunnel near Khandala.

Under the ‘Missing

Link’ project road between Khalapur and Khopoli has also been widened from six

lane to eight lane stretching around 13.3 km. With two tunnels and two viaducts

the project has been registered in the Guinness Book of World Records. The two

tunnels are 8.9 km and 1.58 km long constructed using New Austrian Tunnelling

Method (NATM) Technology. The tunnels are 23.50 meter wide. The Guinness Book has

registered them as widest tunnels carved in the Sahyadri mountain range.

The second

tunnel is 180 meter below the lake in Lonawala and constructed using modern

technology. The 650 meter cable-stab bridge stays on 182 meter high towers on

240 cables. The bridge was constructed after various security checks.

Initially

vehicles carrying inflammable material, explosives and other dangerous materials

will not be allowed to use the link

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar