Introductory Memo
The recently inaugurated Missing Link project on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway has earned a place in the Guinness World Records. It includes the world’s widest underground road tunnel, stretching 23 metres across. Built to bypass the winding and accident-prone ghat section, the project features twin four-lane tunnels with service lanes, along with India’s tallest cable-stayed bridge over Tiger Valley, rising to a height of 182 metres. Does this signal a broader shift in India’s approach to infrastructure development?
In recent years, India has taken up a series of ambitious projects across mountains, valleys, coastlines, and densely populated urban corridors. But beyond their engineering scale and visual impact, do these projects reflect true technical advancement? More importantly, have they delivered measurable gains in mobility, economic efficiency, regional connectivity, and the daily lives of citizens?