Mumbai-Pune Expressway ‘missing link’ inaugurated: Devendra Fadnavis takes G-Wagen for a spin; watch

MUMBAI: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis was seen driving a G-Wagen during the inauguration of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway’s much-awaited ‘missing link’ on Friday, marking a key milestone in the state’s infrastructure push.After inaugurating the project, Fadnavis drove the SUV along the Lonavala-bound carriageway, with deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde seated beside him.Visuals showed Devendra Fadnavis behind the wheel of a blue G-Wagen as officials and supporters looked on.Calling the project an “engineering marvel”, Fadnavis said the expressway upgrade, built at a cost of around Rs 7,000 crore, would act as an “economic multiplier” and help generate economic activity worth Rs 70,000 crore by boosting connectivity, investments and industrial growth along the corridor.“The ‘missing’ is over… Maharashtra moves forward with stronger connectivity,” he said.The inauguration coincided with Maharashtra Day celebrations, drawing large crowds and heavy traffic to the ghat sections of the expressway.Mumbai-Pune Expressway 'missing link': What you need to knowHowever, the event also led to massive congestion in the Khandala and Bhor ghat stretches, with commuters reporting long delays since early morning. Many questioned the timing of the inauguration, citing the long weekend and school holidays.Addressing the issue later, Fadnavis apologised for the inconvenience caused to travellers and acknowledged the traffic disruption during the event.