Planned traffic blocks on Mumbai-Pune Expressway continue; no major jams reported

After Wednesday, work to clear loose boulders and soil will be taken up after one week or so

The Mumbai-Pune Expressway was blocked for short durations for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, as the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) continued with its rock-scaling work.

Work is underway near Adoshi tunnel on the Expressway, where landslides (in pic) are common during monsoons. (HT File Photo)

Again, as on Tuesday, vehicles heading towards Mumbai are being halted near Adoshi tunnel on the ghats at Khopoli for 15 minutes every hour. Minor traffic jams have been reported near the tunnel. “There have been no major traffic snarls till afternoon,” said S Mungliwar, executive engineer of MSRDC.

The MSRDC is removing loose soil and boulders from the hills that run adjacent to the highway so that there are no landslides, especially during the monsoon.

Mungliwar said: “Only vehicles going towards Mumbai are being stopped as the hills are adjacent to that lane. However, to remove the very big boulders, we have been stopping vehicles on the other lane [towards Pune] too, for short durations of five to 10 minutes.”

On Wednesday, the blockade started at 10am and will continue till 3.30pm, he added.

Munglikar said the rock-scaling work is a long-term project that the MSRDC has undertaken. “There is no work scheduled from Thursday onwards.Work will start again after one week or so,” he said.