The much-awaited Mumbai-Pune Missing Link project has been opened for traffic which has offered faster travel between Mumbai and Pune. However, commuters have now raised concerns over poor mobile network connectivity on the newly opened stretch.

The Missing Link has reduced the travel time by nearly 10 to 12 minutes, but passengers and drivers say mobile signals remain weak or unavailable at several points. This has raised serious questions over emergency communication, especially in case of accidents, vehicle breakdowns or medical emergencies.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has built the Missing Link at a cost of over Rs. 7,000 crore to increase the traffic capacity of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

The project includes two tunnels, with the Khopoli-Kusgaon section covering around 13.3 km. Of this, nearly 9 km is tunnel road. The Missing Link has reduced the Mumbai-Pune distance by about 6 km and has shortened travel time by nearly 30 minutes on the ghat area.

However, commuters say the mobile network disappears inside the tunnels and remains unstable at several points. In many places, calls do not connect and internet access is not available.

Travellers say the lack of mobile connectivity could become a serious problem during emergencies. If a vehicle breaks down inside the tunnel or an accident takes place, passengers may struggle to contact police, highway authorities, ambulance services or family members.

Drivers also said that in an unfamiliar stretch, the inability to make calls or access maps adds to anxiety.

The Missing Link project has been widely discussed since its opening. Many travellers are using the new route out of curiosity and to experience the shorter expressway stretch.