Mumbai-Pune Expressway traffic jam ends after 32 hours of chaos

No food, water or toilets for passengers who were caught in a massive traffic jam on the expressway that lasted for 32 long hours.

Early on Thursday, traffic on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway resumed, nearly after 32 hours after a tanker carrying highly inflammable propylene gas overturned. The incident occurred near the Adoshi tunnel on the Khandalaghat section, triggering gridlock that left thousands of commuters stranded for over a day.

After 32 hours, the traffic jam ended on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

A tanker carrying highly flammable propylene gas overturned on the expressway, causing a massive traffic jam that lasted 32 hours. Authorities completed the gas transfer and removal of the overturned tanker before resuming the traffic around 2 am. Initially, traffic was slow due to a truck breakdown near Malavli and congestion from stationary heavy vehicles near Kamshet. The traffic then got stabilised hours later amid heavy police presence and active regulation at key choke points. A highway police officer said, “Traffic has gained normalcy, but the number of vehicles is less than on a regular day as several people postponed their journeys.”

One of the longest traffic gridlocks in the history of the 94.5 km-long expressway.

The traffic gridlock was one of the longest in the history of the 94.5 km-long Mumbai-Pune expressway. It stretched into its second day on Wednesday, leaving commuters stranded without access to toilets, drinking water, or food. Traffic started piling up on Tuesday around 5.15 pm after the tanker, on its way to Gujarat’s Surat from Kochi in Kerala, overturned and triggered a major gas leak. This forced authorities to shut down the entire Mumbai-bound carriageway as a precaution. The tanker lost control on a downward slope. Highway Police Superintendent TanajiChikhale said, “Public safety was our top priority. Every step from stopping traffic to gas transfer and tanker removal was carried out with utmost caution and coordination.”

The prolonged disruption impacted public transport, with several bus services between Pune and Mumbai cancelled, leaving passengers stranded at terminals and along the highway. Chief Minister DevendraFadnavis ordered an inquiry and directed the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation to submit a report, along with recommendations, to deal with such emergencies.