Two of five lanes shut near Khopoli for repair on road to Missing Link during Diwali holidays

Motorists heading towards the Missing Link of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway are facing restrictions near Khopoli these days. About 100 metres of the road had deteriorated and is being repaired during the Diwali holidays.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) began the work on November 3. The road has five lanes. Two of them have been closed to relay the surface, so only three lanes are open for now. Vehicles moving towards the Missing Link have less space, and speeds may drop in the festival rush.

The repair uses a special type of epoxy asphalt, chosen for the road surface. MSRDC officials say the remaining three lanes are enough to handle the traffic. They have denied reports of any major crowding or traffic jams because of the restrictions.

The work is being done in phases so that part of the road stays open to motorists. Once the two closed lanes are repaired, workers will start on the other three. In this way the whole stretch will be fixed without closing the road completely.

MSRDC expects the full repair to be completed in four to five days. The schedule has been set so that the road is ready before people begin returning to Mumbai after the Diwali holidays.

The 100-metre stretch is an important route to the Missing Link, which is part of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Given the condition of this stretch and the lane restrictions in force, the repair matters to those travelling this way during the holidays.