A landslide on the newly inaugurated Khopoli-Kusgaon Missing Link section of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway has forced a closure of the stretch, triggering sharp political attacks on the Maharashtra government on Monday, 6 July 2026. The Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP (SP) have accused the Mahayuti coalition of corruption, arguing that a multi-crore infrastructure project crumbling within two months of inauguration reflects systemic failure.

What Happened

The Khopoli-Kusgaon Missing Link was inaugurated on 1 May 2026, making Monday's landslide its first major structural disruption in under 60 days. The incident follows an earlier controversy over potholes on the same stretch. Traffic on one of India's busiest inter-city corridors was disrupted, affecting thousands of daily commuters between Mumbai and Pune.

Opposition Charges

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray alleged that the project's cost had been 'escalated by thousands of crores' and said 'not even 50 feet of the road is flat — it is all undulated and feels like one is sitting in a boat, riding the waves.' He further alleged, 'Corruption is the first name of the BJP and Shinde faction, be it in the roads or even in temples.'

NCP (SP) legislator Rohit Pawar targeted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directly, stating, 'Due to only the link of brokerage and corruption emerging in the Missing Link's work, even safety has gone missing.' He added that recent rains 'from Pune to Mumbai have exposed the hollow claims of this corrupt government.'

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Harshwardhan Sapkal mocked the Chief Minister, saying 'In the very first rain, Infra Man has turned into Disaster Man!' He argued the problem was 'not the rain — it's the shoddy workmanship, the corruption, and the political impunity granted to contractors.'

Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar demanded a high-level inquiry, questioning whether the inauguration was 'rushed while neglecting the standards of construction.' He also raised the toll accountability issue: 'On one hand, regular tolls are collected from passengers, but on the other, the government and relevant authorities are failing to ensure safe travel.'

What the Government Said

Chief Minister Fadnavis had earlier defended the project over the pothole controversy, saying 'Whenever any project is completed and witnesses its first monsoon, a second layer is typically applied. During this initial rain, the durability of the road is tested.' He credited the project with delivering 'the country's tallest bridge, the country's widest tunnels, and a tunnel running beneath a dam for the very first time.'

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), which oversees the expressway, had not issued a formal statement on the landslide or a reopening timeline as of Monday evening, according to reports.

Broader Context

The Missing Link was conceived to eliminate a longstanding bottleneck on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, one of India's highest-traffic inter-city routes. Its cost reportedly escalated significantly over successive revisions before inauguration. The landslide is the second high-profile infrastructure setback on the stretch within its first two months, intensifying scrutiny of project execution and contractor accountability under the Mahayuti administration.

What Comes Next

Opposition parties have demanded a high-level government inquiry and accountability in the state Assembly. With the monsoon season far from over, further pressure on the newly built infrastructure remains a live concern. The MSRDC is expected to assess the damage and announce a repair and reopening schedule in the coming days.