Cars: 100 km/h on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, 60 km/h in the ghat, 100 km/h in the Missing Link tunnels. Buses and heavy vehicles: 80 km/h, and 40 km/h in the ghat. Overspeeding in a car is fined ₹1,000–₹2,000 under Section 183 of the Motor Vehicles Act, and the ITMS cameras along the route send the e-challan to the vehicle owner.
Limits, fines and rules last verified 8 Oct 2026 against the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 and dated reports of Highway Police and MSRDC notices. Sources are listed at the end.
What Is the Speed Limit on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway?
The limits below are the ones notified for the Expressway and posted on its signboards. The national rules allow up to 120 km/h for cars on expressways, but the authority for a road can set lower limits, and on this one it has: 100 km/h is the most a car may do anywhere on the route.
| Vehicle | Open Expressway | Ghat section | Missing Link tunnels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cars, SUVs, MPVs, taxis (up to 8 passengers) | 100 km/h | 60 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Buses (9+ passengers) | 80 km/h | 40 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Trucks and heavy goods vehicles | 80 km/h | 40 km/h | — |
Tunnel limits are from the Highway Police notification for the Missing Link, as reported when it opened in May 2026. That notice did not state a separate limit for trucks in the tunnels. Watch the signboards: lower limits are posted at toll plazas, curves and work zones.
What Is the Speed Limit in the Ghat Section?
On the Bhor (Khandala) ghat stretch the limit drops to 60 km/h for cars and 40 km/h for buses and heavy vehicles. Drivers who carry Expressway speed into the descent get challans here. In 2025 the authorities discussed raising the heavy-vehicle limit to 45–50 km/h; the car limit was not part of that proposal. Since 1 May 2026, cars can bypass much of the old ghat through the Missing Link.
Overspeeding Fines and Other Challans
Fines are set by the Motor Vehicles Act, as amended in 2019. The Act gives a range; the amount on a Maharashtra e-challan is the compounding fee the state applies within that range.
| Offence | Section | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Overspeeding, car (LMV) | Sec 183 | ₹1,000–₹2,000; licence can be impounded on a repeat offence |
| Overspeeding, medium/heavy vehicle | Sec 183 | ₹2,000–₹4,000; licence can be impounded on a repeat offence |
| No seat belt (driver or any passenger) | Sec 194B | ₹1,000 |
| Child under 14 not secured | Sec 194B(2) | ₹1,000 |
| Lane indiscipline / driving regulations | Sec 177A | ₹500–₹1,000 |
| Handheld phone, wrong-way driving, unlawful overtaking | Sec 184 | First offence: 6–12 months jail or ₹1,000–₹5,000, or both; repeat: up to 2 years and/or ₹10,000 |
Check or pay a challan on the government's e-challan portal with the vehicle number or challan number.
Are There Speed Cameras on the Expressway? (ITMS)
Yes. The Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) covers the Expressway with gantry-mounted speed cameras, number-plate recognition, weather sensors and message boards linked to a command centre. It went live in July 2024. Between 19 July 2024 and 17 July 2025 it recorded about 27.76 lakh e-challans worth ₹470 crore, as reported from MSRDC's figures. The cameras pick up overspeeding, missing seat belts, lane cutting, wrong-side entry and phone use. Each case is checked at the command centre and approved by RTO officials before the challan is sent.
Lane Rules on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway
- Keep left. The right lane is for overtaking, not cruising.
- Heavy vehicles and slow traffic use the left lane.
- Overtake only from the right, and never on the shoulder.
- Do not stop on the carriageway. MSRDC prohibits stopping on the Missing Link bridges and tunnels, which are watched by CCTV around the clock.
- Two-wheelers, three-wheelers, tractors and other slow vehicles are not allowed on the Expressway.
- Everyone in the car wears a seat belt, front and rear.
Is the Mumbai–Pune Expressway Open Now?
The Expressway runs round the clock, and the Missing Link has been open since 1 May 2026. Two things close or slow it: planned traffic blocks for works such as gantry or girder installation, which MSRDC announces a few days ahead and usually schedules for an hour or two in the afternoon, and heavy monsoon rain in the ghat. Before you set off, check the latest MSRDC and Maharashtra Highway Police announcements, and see our guide to the best time to travel.
Prefer to skip the driving? See fares for all four cars on the Pune to Mumbai cab and Mumbai to Pune cab pages, and work out your own toll with the toll calculator.
Sources
- Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 — Gazette of India: Sections 177A, 183, 184 and 194B
- Ministry of Road Transport & Highways — national maximum speed limits notification (April 2018)
- Parivahan e-challan portal — check and pay challans
- MSRDC — operator of the Mumbai–Pune Expressway
- Free Press Journal — Missing Link tunnel speed limits and no-stopping order (3 May 2026)
- The Week / PTI — car limit 60 km/h in the ghat; heavy-vehicle limit review (22 June 2025)
- Free Press Journal, The Week / PTI — ITMS e-challans worth ₹470 crore in one year (10 Aug 2025)
- Rushlane — Highway Police notification: 100/60 km/h for M-category vehicles, 80/40 km/h for 9+ seat vehicles
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the speed limit on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway for cars?
100 km/h for cars and other passenger vehicles with up to 8 seats besides the driver, dropping to 60 km/h on the ghat section. Inside the Missing Link tunnels, which opened on 1 May 2026, the notified limit for cars is also 100 km/h.
What is the speed limit in the ghat section of the Mumbai–Pune Expressway?
60 km/h for cars and 40 km/h for buses and heavy vehicles on the Bhor (Khandala) ghat stretch. In 2025 the authorities discussed raising the heavy-vehicle limit to 45–50 km/h; the 60 km/h limit for cars was not part of that proposal.
What is the speed limit for buses and trucks on the Expressway?
80 km/h on the open Expressway and 40 km/h in the ghat section for buses with 9 or more seats and for heavy vehicles. In the Missing Link tunnels, buses are limited to 80 km/h.
What is the fine for overspeeding on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway?
Under Section 183 of the Motor Vehicles Act, as amended in 2019, overspeeding in a car is fined ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, and in a medium or heavy vehicle ₹2,000 to ₹4,000. For a second or later offence the driving licence can be impounded. The amount on your e-challan is the compounding fee Maharashtra applies within that range.
Are there speed cameras on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway?
Yes. The Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) uses gantry-mounted speed and number-plate cameras along the Expressway. It went live in July 2024 and, by MSRDC's figures reported in August 2025, issued about 27.76 lakh e-challans worth ₹470 crore in its first year.
What violations do the Expressway cameras detect?
Overspeeding, not wearing a seat belt, lane cutting, entering from the wrong side, and using a mobile phone while driving. Each violation is verified at a command centre and the challan is approved by RTO officials before it is issued to the vehicle owner.
Is a rear seat belt compulsory on the Expressway?
Yes. Section 194B of the Motor Vehicles Act fines the driver ₹1,000 for driving without a seat belt or for carrying passengers who are not wearing one, and that includes the rear seats. A child under 14 must be secured with a seat belt or a child restraint.
What are the lane rules on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway?
Keep left and use the right lane only to overtake. Heavy vehicles and slow traffic stay in the left lane. Do not stop on the carriageway; MSRDC specifically prohibits stopping on the Missing Link bridges and tunnels for photos. Two-wheelers, three-wheelers and tractors are not allowed on the Expressway at all.
What is the fine for lane cutting?
Breaking the driving regulations, which include lane discipline, attracts ₹500 to ₹1,000 under Section 177A. Overtaking in a manner contrary to law or driving against the flow of traffic counts as dangerous driving under Section 184: six months to a year in jail, a fine of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, or both, for a first offence.
Is the Mumbai–Pune Expressway open now?
The Expressway runs 24 hours, and the Missing Link has been open since 1 May 2026. MSRDC announces planned traffic blocks for works such as gantry or girder installation in advance, usually for an hour or two in the afternoon, and the ghat can slow down in heavy monsoon rain. Check MSRDC and Maharashtra Highway Police announcements on the day for blocks.
How do I check or pay an Expressway e-challan?
On the government's e-challan portal, echallan.parivahan.gov.in, using the vehicle number, challan number or driving licence number. Challans are issued to the registered owner of the vehicle.