The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has initiated load testing on the nearly finished missing link of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, which is expected to be fully operational by the end of April. Rajesh Patil, Joint Managing Director of MSRDC, stated that the project is 99% complete, with only finishing touches remaining. The missing link connects Khopoli and Kusgaon, bypassing the steep Khandala-Lonavala ghat section, which has historically caused significant traffic congestion. The new route will reduce the distance by over 6 km, allowing commuters to save between 25 and 30 minutes on their journeys. A phased traffic plan will initially permit only light vehicles for the first three months post-inauguration, followed by heavy and passenger vehicles. Additionally, vehicles carrying combustible materials will be barred from using the link due to safety concerns. The total cost of the project is approximately ₹6,695 crore (roughly $800 million USD), and the state government has proposed May 1 as a tentative inauguration date.