{"data":{"news":{"items":[{"title":"Mumbai–Pune Expressway Missing Link opens, featuring India’s tallest road cable-stayed bridge","date":"2026-05-24 12:47:19","id":6298,"author":"","blurb":"","blurb_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2026/05/1779598090945_Afcons-1-V2.jpg","blurb_expanded_image_uid":null,"article":"\n\t\n\n\n

The Mumbai–Pune Expressway’s Missing Link was officially inaugurated on 1 May 2026. Featuring India’s tallest road cable-stayed bridge, the project bypasses the Khandala Ghat section.

\n\n

One of India’s leading contractors, Afcons Infrastructure Ltd, delivered Package II of the project, which comprises two viaducts measuring 850 m and 650 m in length, the widening of the expressway from six to eight lanes over 5.86 km, and more than 10 km of approach and slip roads. Each viaduct carries four lanes of traffic.

\n\n

The 650-m-long viaduct includes 182-m-high pylons, taller than the 128-m pylons of the Bandra–Worli Sea Link, making it the tallest bridge ever built for an Indian road project.

\n\n

Reaching completion was far from easy, said Krishnamurthy Subramanian, executive chairman of Afcons. ”The bridge, located in the Sahyadri region, presented extreme challenges: narrow ridges left little room for heavy machinery, wind speeds could shift from a gentle breeze to violent blasts of 100 km/hr within minutes, and monsoon rains turned cliffs into cascading sheets of water, halting work instantly.”

\n\n

“Fog often rolled in without warning, reducing visibility to just a few metres,” he added. “Despite such formidable challenges, we are proud to deliver this engineering marvel.”

\n\n

The pylon shaft was built using a self-climbing shuttering system, overcoming gravity and the strong winds of the Sahyadris, explained Ranjan Kumar Mishra, project director at Afcons. Meanwhile, the bridge deck segments were constructed one by one with precision, using four tower cranes operating at a height of 182 m in coordination with eight 350-t cantilever form travellers (CFTs).

\n\n

“Working at such heights, construction activities such as welding and segment lifting demand extraordinary precision, courage and patience,” Mr Mishra stressed. “Engineers and workers, often positioned on narrow ledges above deep valleys, operate under world-class safety and quality standards, using advanced construction methodologies to maintain both speed and accuracy.”

\n\n

\n\n\n","article_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2026/05/1779598096100_Afcons-1.jpg","article_expanded_image_uid":null,"article_image_caption":"A view of India’s tallest road cable-stayed bridge on the Missing Link project, which incorporates 182-m-high pylons.","publications":"7","tags":"India,Afcons Infrastructure,cable-stayed bridge,Missing Link","category":"Projects"},{"title":"Building the ‘Missing Link’ on Mumbai-Pune Expressway","date":"2025-08-27 14:56:38","id":5980,"author":"","blurb":"","blurb_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2025/08/1756277843305_Doka_MPEW_2 copy 2.jpg","blurb_expanded_image_uid":null,"article":"\n\t\n\n\n

The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, a vital artery connecting two of India’s major cities, is undergoing a significant upgrade with the construction of the 13.3 km ‘Missing Link’. This ambitious undertaking, spearheaded by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), is being constructed by Afcons Infrastructure Ltd, which is executing Package-II.

\n\n

The project aims to improve connectivity by reducing travel distance by over 6 km and travel time by approximately 30 minutes. Doka plays a pivotal role here, providing its expertise and innovative systems for the construction of the complex cable-stayed bridge.

\n\n

Bridging the gap

\n\n

The Missing Link is designed to bypass the Khandala Ghat section of the existing expressway, notorious for its hairpin bends and susceptibility to landslides. The project includes two, eight-lane twin tunnels, viaducts and a series of bridges, including a 650-m-long cable-stayed bridge with four diamond-shaped pylons, each 181.77 m high – making it one of the tallest in India.

\n\n

This cable-stayed bridge is designed to navigate steep slopes and hazardous sections of the existing expressway, transforming the 19-km stretch from the Khopoli Exit to the Sinhagad Institute into a ‘zero-fatality corridor.’

\n\n

Complex structures

\n\n

The diamond-shaped pylon, with its complex geometry and inclinations in different directions, presented a unique challenge. Doka devised a tailored solution combining the Xclimb 60 Short Track and Automatic climbing formwork SKE100 plus systems. This innovative approach allows for the efficient and precise execution of the construction process, addressing both the simpler and more intricate sections of the pylon.

\n\n

The Automatic climbing formwork SKE50 plus and SKE100 plus, Guided climbing formwork Xclimb 60, along with the Large-area formwork Top 50, ensure rapid and safe construction progress, while minimising manual handling, thereby reducing risks for on-site crews and accelerating construction timelines.

\n\n

By collaborating closely with Afcons, and leveraging its engineering expertise, Doka is contributing to the successful completion of this vital infrastructure project, which will significantly enhance connectivity and safety on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

\n\n

All images: Doka

\n\n\n","article_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2025/08/1756277850672_Doka_MPEW_1 copy 2.jpg","article_expanded_image_uid":null,"article_image_caption":"A bird’s eye view of the Missing Link, showcasing the treacherous terrain on which the project has been developed.","publications":"7","tags":"India,bridge,Doka,formwork,Missing Link","category":"Case Studies"}],"pageInfo":{"hasNextPage":false,"hasPreviousPage":false,"totalCount":2,"totalPages":0,"currentIndex":0}}}}