Goods vehicles barred from Missing Link on Mumbai-Pune Expressway from Nov 1; cars capped at 100 kmph

Every goods vehicle, however small, will be kept off the Missing Link stretch of the Yashwantrao Chavan Mumbai-Pune Expressway near Lonavala from November 1, 2026. Pickup vans and other small commercial vehicles are covered by the ban, and a fixed speed cap will also apply to the stretch.

The rules come from a notification signed on October 26 by Praveen Salunke, Additional Director General of Police (Traffic), Maharashtra. They stay in force until further orders. Only non-transport light motor vehicles, meaning private cars and jeeps, and buses and other passenger-carrying vehicles may use the Missing Link.

Light commercial vehicles such as pickup vans and the Tata Ace had been allowed on the new route until now. That permission ends. In the notification, Salunke said, "All goods vehicles, including LMV goods vehicles (such as pickup vans, Tata Ace and others), are permanently prohibited from the 'missing link (connecting link)' route and must use the existing expressway."

Vehicles carrying hazardous cargo, including inflammable and explosive material and other dangerous substances, are shut out as well. Citing Ministry of Road Transport and Highways guidelines and tunnel safety protocols, the notification describes them as "permanently and strictly" barred. It adds, "Such vehicles must use the existing expressway." In practice, all of this traffic must continue on the old, original lanes of the expressway.

The notification also fixes speed limits. Cars and light motor vehicles may go no faster than 100 kmph, while passenger buses and other passenger vehicles are limited to 80 kmph. For cars, Salunke wrote, "The maximum speed limit has been fixed at 100 kmph." For buses and passenger vehicles, he wrote, "The maximum speed limit has been fixed at 80 kmph."

Motorists get a small allowance. If a recorded speed is within five per cent of the prescribed maximum, no cognisance of the violation will be taken under Section 183 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The notified limits of 100 and 80 kmph themselves do not change.

Explaining why permanent rules were needed, Salunke pointed to safety inside the tunnels of the Missing Link, technical aspects of the route and consultations held with stakeholders. According to him, "Framing permanent traffic rules on this route is necessary for public safety." The notification further directs the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation to put up speed limit signboards at suitable places along the stretch.

The Pune region of Maharashtra Highway Police backed the order with a separate press release on October 26. It asked motorists to check, before they enter the Missing Link, whether their vehicle's category is permitted there. Drivers were urged to keep to the prescribed speed, take special care inside the tunnels and follow the instructions of traffic police. Those driving goods and heavy vehicles were told not to attempt entry and to take the existing expressway instead.

Police say the aim is to prevent accidents in the tunnels and make travel on the route safer for commuters. They have asked drivers to follow the rules fully and cooperate with the administration when the new regime begins on November 1.