Long Weekend Rush Triggers Heavy Traffic Jam on Mumbai-Pune Expressway

Khandala, 18th April 2025: A massive traffic jam brought vehicles to a crawl on the Pune-bound lane of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, as thousands of travellers hit the road ahead of the extended weekend.

The congestion, which started early in the morning, spanned nearly 7 to 8 kilometres in the Khandala Ghat section — a known bottleneck during high-traffic periods. The traffic buildup is being blamed on a sharp spike in outbound movement from Mumbai, with holiday-goers heading towards Pune, Lonavala, and nearby tourist spots.

Despite deployment of highway police to manage the situation, commuters continued to face long delays and sluggish traffic flow throughout the day. Frustrated motorists shared their plight on social media, highlighting the irony of paying high toll fees only to be stranded.

This is not the first time the expressway has witnessed such scenes during festive weekends or public holidays. Traffic snarls in the Khandala-Lonavala stretch have become a recurring issue, raising questions about the road’s capacity and traffic management protocols.
Authorities have urged travellers to check real-time traffic updates before starting their journey and consider staggered timings to avoid peak congestion.