A major gas tanker leak brought the traffic on the iconic Pune Mumbai Expressway corridors to a gridlock
on second consecutive day on Wednesday, with severe congestion that not only paralysed traffic movement in
Mumbai-Pune Expressway but also spilling over onto all officially suggested alternative routes, causing massive delays and stranding thousands of commuters.
The crisis, triggered by an overturned hazardous gas tanker near the Adoshi tunnel on Tuesday evening, continues despite the gas leak being brought under control. One lane of the Expressway remained closed for clearance and safety operations, creating a 20-hour-long bottleneck.
Authorities had issued four key alternative routes for private vehicle. However, by Wednesday afternoon, these ghat sections and state highways were also reported to be clogged with diverted traffic. The volume of vehicles, including heavy goods transporters seeking bypass routes overwhelmed the capacity of these narrow, winding roads. Commuters reported travel times exceeding 10-12 hours on these diversions, which already add a minimum of 50 kilometres to the journey.
On the other hand,
Pune Rural Police have launched a large-scale relief operation, handing out food and drinking water to thousands of commuters stranded on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
Acting under the direction of Superintendent of Police Sandeep Singh Gill, teams from Lonavala City Police Station were dispatched along the stretch to reach motorists caught in the 50-kilometre traffic jam.
Footage circulating online shows officers moving between rows of idling cars and two-wheelers, distributing biscuit packets and bottled water to weary travellers. The police are also assisting young children, elderly passengers and patients who have been without basic supplies since Tuesday night.
In a major development, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has suspended all its ST bus services from Pune to Mumbai destinations, including Mumbai Central, Dadar, Thane, and Borivali, until further notice. “Passenger safety and the inability to maintain schedules due to unprecedented gridlock forced this decision,” an MSRTC official stated.
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Authorities have reiterated their advisories, urging commuters to avoid the Khandala and Lonavala exits, which are critically congested. Travellers are strongly advised to carry ample fuel, water, and food if undertaking a journey. Heavy vehicles have been directed to halt at designated safe parking areas.
Amid the complete road transport gridlock railway services have emerged as the only functional mode of travel. The Deccan Queen, Intercity Express, and Sinhagad Express are running as per schedule and are reportedly packed to capacity.
Traffic and police officials are on site, managing the diversions and assisting stranded motorists. According to senior traffic police official clearing the tanker is their top priority. They appealed for patience and requested people to avoid non-essential travel on this corridor until normalcy is restored.
Emergency teams continue their work on the Expressway, with no definitive timeline yet for the full restoration of traffic flow.
News Edit KV Raman