Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday defended the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, stating that the 27-year-old highway remains pothole-free. He made the remarks while addressing a conference on road safety and technology, where he also called for the use of advanced technology to identify road defects early.
Gadkari acknowledged that he faced social media criticism following a recent collapse at the Missing Link section of the expressway. He emphasized that the expressway's overall condition is good and that isolated incidents should not overshadow its maintenance record.
The minister urged engineers and contractors to adopt modern tools like AI-based monitoring and sensor systems to detect structural issues before they escalate. He reiterated the government's commitment to improving road infrastructure and safety across the country.
According to official data, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, opened in 2000, has significantly reduced travel time between the two cities. The Missing Link project, aimed at further easing congestion, is part of ongoing upgrades.
