Traffic movement on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway was temporarily diverted on Wednesday to facilitate maintenance and repair work along with a mock drill on the Connecting Link section. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) had announced the temporary closure through an advisory issued on Tuesday, asking motorists travelling towards Mumbai to follow the diversion and plan their journeys accordingly. The restrictions were scheduled from 12 noon to 3 pm. During the specified period, the Connecting Link carriageway carrying traffic from Pune towards Mumbai remained closed. Vehicles travelling towards Mumbai were diverted through the ghat section of the old Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

Authorities advised motorists using the alternative route to follow traffic signs and instructions issued by traffic personnel to ensure smooth movement and minimise the possibility of congestion. The carriageway carrying traffic from Mumbai towards Pune remained operational, according to the MSRDC. The temporary restriction was therefore limited to traffic travelling in the Pune-to-Mumbai direction on the Connecting Link. The arrangement was introduced specifically to allow authorities and maintenance teams to carry out the scheduled work safely without exposing motorists to the activities taking place on the affected section. The maintenance and repair work was accompanied by a mock drill on the Connecting Link.

Such exercises are intended to assess the preparedness of agencies and personnel responsible for responding to incidents on major road infrastructure. The temporary closure provided authorities with an opportunity to conduct the planned activities while reducing the risk of interference with regular traffic movement on the affected carriageway. The MSRDC appealed to motorists to cooperate with the temporary traffic arrangements and account for possible delays while travelling between Pune and Mumbai. Drivers were advised to remain alert to road signs and follow directions from authorities while using the diversion through the old expressway’s ghat section.

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Planning journeys around the closure period was also recommended to avoid inconvenience. The Pune-Mumbai Expressway is a major road corridor connecting the two cities and carries substantial traffic throughout the day. Temporary closures for maintenance activities can therefore affect travel times, particularly when traffic is redirected onto alternative sections of the route. Authorities put the diversion in place for the specified three-hour window to complete the planned work and mock drill. Motorists requiring assistance during their journey were advised to contact the Mumbai-Pune Expressway control room at 98224 98224 or the Highway Police at 98334 98334.

The helplines were provided for travellers seeking information or assistance related to the temporary traffic arrangements. With the scheduled closure limited to the Pune-to-Mumbai Connecting Link between noon and 3 pm, motorists travelling in that direction were advised to use the designated diversion and follow official instructions. The MSRDC’s advisory was aimed at ensuring that maintenance work and the mock drill could be completed while maintaining traffic movement through the available alternative route.

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