Mumbai-Pune Expressway fresh gridlock: Bhor Ghat breakdown sparks chaos after 32-hour blockade

Just hours after authorities cleared a crippling 32-hour traffic jam on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway triggered by a gas tanker overturning on February 3, fresh chaos erupted on Friday morning near the treacherous Bhor Ghat stretch.

Read: Why the Mumbai-Pune Expressway gridlock is India's recurring normal

According to reports, a vehicle breakdown halted movement completely in the early hours, stranding hundreds of vehicles between Amrutanjan Bridge and Khalapur Toll Plaza. Traffic crawled at a snail's pace through the Khopoli area, leaving commuters fuming amid the steep ghat terrain notorious for such breakdowns.

Recovery teams are on site, but officials warn that normal flow will not resume until all stalled vehicles, including several heavy ones on the Pune-Mumbai carriageway, are towed away.

The latest snarl traces directly to the tanker accident around 5 pm on February 3. Authorities rightly halted traffic as a safety precaution, but the closure dragged on for nearly 32 hours, trapping families, senior citizens and daily wage earners in their vehicles with scant access to food, water, or toilets.

Relief came on Thursday when the tanker was finally removed, allowing Mumbai-bound traffic to inch forward — only for the Pune-Mumbai side to grind to a halt again due to multiple breakdowns.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has taken serious note, directing the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to conduct a detailed inquiry and submit a comprehensive report with recommendations to prevent future mishaps and bolster emergency preparedness.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reviewed the situation and ordered an immediate emergency traffic management plan for the expressway. He also pushed officials to expedite the long-delayed "missing link" project, underscoring the need for robust infrastructure on this vital corridor.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray lambasted the government's response, pointing to the immense suffering of passengers while authorities opted for yet another inquiry.

Referring to multiple past incidents on the route, he questioned whether the administration would ever learn its lessons. Thackeray acknowledged that stopping traffic after the tanker overturned was correct for safety reasons, but hammered home a key failing: the lack of a swift clearance plan.