Traffic has resumed on the Pune-Mumbai Connecting Link Road after a landslide triggered by heavy overnight rain brought movement on the route to a halt. But the weather continues to disrupt transport across Maharashtra, with waterlogging affecting rail services and multiple districts remaining under weather alerts.
The restoration offers relief to commuters after rain-triggered landslides disrupted both road and rail connectivity on Monday. Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious as more heavy rainfall is forecast and rescue agencies remain deployed across vulnerable areas.
The Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) announced that vehicles were once again moving on the Connecting Link Road.
“Traffic is resumed at the ‘Connecting Link’; vehicular movement is restored. The government is trying its best. Stay safe, everyone!,” the CMO said in a post on X.
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) also confirmed that traffic had resumed after extensive safety operations were completed.
“Traffic has resumed on the Pune-Mumbai Connecting Link Road. Vehicular movement has been restored after completion of extensive safety operations,” the agency said.
Heavy rainfall disrupted road and rail connectivity
Heavy rain triggered landslides in the Mumbai-Pune ghat section on Monday, disrupting transport links between the two cities.
Boulders fell onto railway tracks. A major landslide also forced authorities to suspend traffic on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the old Mumbai-Pune Highway.
Western Railway cancels and diverts trains
Waterlogging in the Vasai Road, Nalasopara and Virar sections has affected rail operations in the Mumbai Central Division of Western Railway.
Railway authorities said several trains have been cancelled and others diverted to ensure passenger safety.
The following trains have been cancelled:
Train No. 19016 Porbandar-Dadar Express (July 7)
Train No. 19218 Veraval-Bandra Terminus Express (July 7)
Train No. 12941 Bhavnagar Terminus-Asansol Express (July 7)
Train No. 12942 Asansol-Bhavnagar Terminus Express (July 9)
The following services have been diverted via the Surat-Paldhi-Jalgaon-Manmad-Daund Chord Line-Pune route:
Train No. 20495 Jodhpur-Hadapsar Express (departed July 6)
Train No. 22497 Sri Ganganagar-Tiruchirappalli Express (departed July 6)
IMD issues alerts across Maharashtra
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange Alert for Mumbai, Kolhapur, Satara, Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri, forecasting moderate spells of rain at isolated places.
Earlier, the weather department had placed Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Pune and the Nashik ghat region under a Red Alert, warning of very heavy rainfall, strong winds and possible waterlogging.
The state government has directed offices to operate from home and deployed disaster relief teams for rescue operations.
The Chief Minister also appealed to residents to remain vigilant after the IMD issued a cloudburst alert for July 7 covering the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar region.
According to the CMO, Palghar and the Konkan region are also under a Red Alert on July 7. Around 500 people in Palghar are being shifted to safer locations.
Authorities have also advised pilgrims not to enter Alandi after floodwaters from the Indrayani River submerged all four bridges leading into the town.