Pune, May 1 (PTI) Traffic chaos was witnessed on both carriageways of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway even as the much-awaited "Missing Link" project was inaugurated on Friday afternoon, leading Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to apologise to stranded commuters, including NCP (SP) Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule.
Sule, who was among hundreds of commuters travelling from Mumbai to Pune, claimed she was stuck in traffic for two hours in the morning, before the inauguration of the project.
Sharing a video on social media showing long queues of vehicles, the Lok Sabha MP from Baramati in Pune district mentioned the hardship faced by motorists on the expressway.
Fadnavis, who inaugurated the 13.3-km-long "Missing Link" project, was quick to apologise to commuters for the inconvenience.
Addressing the press at the inauguration ceremony, the CM said, "I would like to apologise to commuters travelling from Mumbai to Pune as they had to face traffic congestion. Supriya tai was also stranded in the traffic, and she posted a video. I would like to tell her that this is the last time you have been stranded in traffic. With the connecting link now operational, you will not face such issues while travelling between Mumbai and Pune."
The CM also took a dig at the Opposition MP, stating that the BJP-led Mahayuti government completed the project, which had been stalled during the Maha Vikas Aghadi rule (November 2019-June 2022), where the united NCP was a constituent.
The 'Missing Link' connects Khopoli (in Raigad district) on the Mumbai side to Kusgaon near Lonavala in Pune district and is expected to make the 94-km-long expressway fully access-controlled, easing congestion in the hilly ghat section.
Developed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the project includes two tunnels, two viaducts and a cable-stayed bridge over Tiger Valley. It bypasses the steep and accident-prone ghat section that witnesses frequent traffic congestion, especially during weekends and on public holidays.