Mumbai, 1st May 2026: Navayuga Engineering Company Limited (NECL) proudly garners its second Guinness World Records with the construction of the Widest Underground Tunnel, achieved as part of the landmark Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link Project. This extraordinary feat stands as a defining moment in India’s infrastructure journey, showcasing unmatched scale, engineering mastery, and a bold vision to build beyond boundaries.
For decades, the Mumbai-Pune journey through the Sahyadris was scenic yet slow and unpredictable. Under the vision and leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis, the Government of Maharashtra envisioned a transformative solution – bridging the 13.3-kilometre Missing Link, which was delivered by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited (MSRDCL) and brought to life by Navayuga Engineering Company Limited.
Inaugurated on Maharashtra Day, the much-awaited Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link stands as a landmark of engineering brilliance, expanding India’s infrastructure horizon. By bypassing the traffic-prone Khandala Ghats, this transformative route reduces travel time by 30 minutes and significantly eases congestion on one of Maharashtra’s most critical transport corridors.
Marking a defining milestone, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister Shri Eknath Shinde, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister Smt. Sunetra Pawar, and Managing Director of Navayuga Engineering Company Limited, Mr. Chinta Sridhar came together to launch this landmark moment in India’s infrastructure journey.
Mr. Chinta Sridhar, Managing Director, Navayuga Engineering Company Limited, stated, “This is more than a world record, it is a statement of what India can build. Delivering the widest underground tunnel through the challenging basalt terrain of the Sahyadris reflects our ability to execute complex, design-led infrastructure at a global scale. The recognition from Guinness World Records is a proud moment for all of us, and a testament to the trust placed in us by the Government of Maharashtra, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited, and the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis. At Navayuga Engineering, we are committed to pushing boundaries and building infrastructure that drives India forward.”
Mr Ramesh Singooru, Senior Vice President and Regional Head of NECL stated that “Having invested millions of manhours marked by perseverance and unwavering dedication toward the realization of the much-awaited Missing Link project, I am immensely delighted and proud to represent Navayuga Engineering Company Limited in achieving a Guinness World Record for this mega initiative.”
He further added that, “The project presented formidable execution challenges, particularly due to complex land constraints and the steep gradients of the hilly and valley terrain. These were addressed through meticulous planning and advanced engineering solutions, including the provision of adits, cross passages at every 300 metres, and the adoption of NATM with controlled blasting to safeguard the adjacent expressway, in compliance with relevant safety norms.”
