Pune–Mumbai Expressway blocked 16 hours after Propylene gas tanker accident; authorities advise alternate routes

PUNE: The State Highway Police on Wednesday urged commuters to avoid the Pune–Mumbai Expressway as traffic movement remains suspended even 16 hours after an accident involving a Propylene gas tanker near the Adoshi tunnel on the Mumbai-bound carriageway on Tuesday evening.

In an advisory, the Highway Police said commuters should completely avoid the Lonavala–Khandala ghat section and instead use alternate routes via Tamhini Ghat, Malshej Ghat or the Bhimashankar, Manchar route to reach their destinations even as it will increase the travel time by around 3 to 5 hours. Heavy vehicles have been advised to park at the nearest available lay-bys or food malls until the gas leak from the overturned tanker is fully neutralised.




The advisory also said commuters not travelling in private vehicles should opt for trains such as the Intercity Express, Deccan Queen or Sinhagad Express, adding that rail services remain unaffected.

The tanker carrying Propylene gas had overturned late evening on Tuesday, which led to disruption of traffic movement on the Mumbai lane. The officials from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and others have already been rushed to the spot.

Highway SP Tanaji Chikhale told TOI, “Rescue teams are still working to stop the leakage from the overturned tanker using all available measures. I have been informed that it may take at least two more hours to fully control the leak. Once that is done, the tanker will be removed and the Mumbai-bound lane will be opened for traffic.”

He added that one of the three lanes on the Pune-bound carriageway is currently being used to divert stranded vehicles heading towards Mumbai, and commuters have been advised to avoid the stretch until traffic normalises. Following the accident, vehicles were queued for several kilometres towards Pune, leaving many commuters stranded for over 16 hours.