Pune, 1st May 2026: A massive traffic jam was reported on the Pune-bound lane of the Mumbai–Pune Expressway on Maharashtra Day, as thousands of commuters headed outside Mumbai during a long holiday weekend.
The congestion came despite the inauguration of the much-anticipated Missing Link project in the morning by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The situation worsened due to three consecutive holidays, Maharashtra Day followed by Saturday and Sunday, which prompted many Mumbai residents to travel towards Lonavala and nearby hill stations to escape rising temperatures.
The sudden surge in vehicles led to long queues and slow-moving traffic across key stretches of the expressway.
Adding to the irony, the Missing Link project, expected to ease travel time and reduce congestion, was inaugurated earlier in the morning. However, commuters saw little immediate relief, leading to widespread criticism and sarcasm online.
Social media platforms, especially Reddit, were flooded with reactions from stranded travellers. While some users expressed frustration over poor traffic management, others suggested alternative routes such as the old Mumbai–Pune highway via Lonavala to avoid the jam.
Many also mocked the timing of the inauguration, calling it a 'missing inauguration' rather than a solution.
Among those affected was Member of Parliament Supriya Sule, who shared a video from inside the traffic jam, highlighting the ground reality. She showed the long lines of vehicles and slow movement.
