Mumbai-Pune road trip? Brace for traffic snarls as loose soil, boulders are being removed

Mumbai city news: On Monday, the MSRDC was removing soil from a hill near Khopoli, inconveniencing motorists coming to Mumbai from Pune

Brace for traffic snarls on the Mumbai-Pune expressway as the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is removing loose soil and boulders from adjacent hills to prevent landslides and ensure safety of motorists.

The MSRDC has also formed a special team to handle the task along the highway. (FILE PIC FOR REPRESENTATION)

The drive, however, is affecting traffic flow, as motorists are being stopped midway.

On Monday, the MSRDC was removing soil from a hill near Khopoli, inconveniencing motorists coming to Mumbai from Pune.

“If the huge boulders and loose soil fall on the highway, it will seriously affect the vehicular movement. Soil and boulders are being removed from the hills as a precautionary measure,” said a senior MSRDC official.

The MSRDC has also formed a special team to handle the task along the highway.

The team is patrolling the area between Khalapur and Lonavala city, as the area has seen maximum landslides in the past.

The team is using police stations and police chowkies located along the highway to monitor the progress.

The official said, “We are trying to ensure motorists don’t suffer because of the work. Vehicles are being stopped only once in an hour and that is also not for more than 15 minutes. Most of our work is being done on the Pune-Mumbai lane.”

“The work has been going on for the past four to five weeks. At the moment, we can’t say how much time it will take. Our team will keep patrolling the highway throughout the monsoon,” he said.