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Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday inaugurated the 13.3-km-long ‘missing link’ project on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway.

A key highlight of the project is an 8.9-km-long, 8-lane tunnel with a width of 23.75 metres, which is reported to be the widest road tunnel in the world.

The new stretch connects Khopoli to Kusgaon near Lonavala and helps bypass the congested Khandala Ghat section. The route includes tunnels and cable-supported bridges, aimed at improving traffic flow.

With the completion of this project, travel time between Mumbai and Pune is expected to reduce by 20 to 30 minutes.

At present, the expressway stretch has been opened for light vehicles and buses. Officials indicated that heavy vehicles may be allowed after six months.

Meanwhile, due to the Chief Minister’s visit for the inauguration, general traffic was diverted to the old route, leading to heavy congestion during the period.