The much-anticipated cable-stayed bridge in Tiger Valley, slated to alleviate travel time between Mumbai and Pune, will not be accessible to motorists by July this year. Part of the Rs 6,695 crore missing link project, the bridge situated in the congested Lonavala ghat section faces a delay.
The project’s objective is to circumvent the Khandala Ghat section on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, thereby reducing the distance by 6 km and travel time by nearly 30 minutes. Although the toll remains unchanged, motorists will now be subject to toll charges for an additional 15 years beyond the existing contract period, originally set to conclude in 2030.
Project Progress Update
While the two tunnels and another bridge components of the project are nearly 90 per cent complete, adverse conditions such as the COVID-19 pandemic, monsoon weather, and poor visibility have impeded the progress of the cable bridge, as per a report in the Mumbai Mirror citing a Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) official.
Key Features of the Cable Bridge
The bridge, adorned with four pylons towering 182 meters high, equivalent to 60-storey buildings, will span a 1,000 feet slab in the heart of the 650-meter cable bridge. Additionally, the project aims to curtail fuel consumption, which motorists typically expend while navigating the ghat section and incline.
Upon the integration of other associated projects with the missing link initiative, the travel time between Mumbai and Pune is expected to decrease by nearly 60 minutes. The completion of projects such as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) Atal Setu has already contributed to this reduction in travel time. Further initiatives, including the Shedung-Palapse link, construction of three flyovers between Palapse-Chirle, and the Sewri-Worli connector, are poised to enhance connectivity and diminish travel duration between the two cities.