Pune, May 12 -- Even 11 days after the opening of the 'missing link' project on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway, motorists continue to stop on the stretch to click photographs, shoot videos and make social media reels, prompting strict action by the Highway Safety Patrol (HSP) police. From May 1 to May 11, the highway police have taken action against 308 motorists for violating traffic rules on the stretch and recovered fines exceeding Rs.1 lakh. To prevent vehicles from halting on the valley bridge, the police have now temporarily blocked portions of the shoulder lane with barricades so that vehicles continue moving without stopping. After chief minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the stretch on Maharashtra Day, May 1, nearly 70% of the traffic on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway is now using the missing link and connecting corridor as it reduced travel time through the Bhor Ghat section. "Earlier, we faced some challenges as certain categories of vehicles are prohibited from using the stretch, so we deployed additional manpower at key points. Along with Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) officials, we also distributed pamphlets and carried out announcements to spread awareness among motorists," said Tanaji Chikhale, highway police superintendent. The scenic route passing through mountains and valleys has, however, become a major attraction for motorists. Since the stretch opened for traffic, large numbers of commuters have been stopping their vehicles on the bridge and inside tunnel stretches to click selfies, record videos and create reels for social media, creating a serious safety concern for highway authorities. "Last weekend, the entire ghat section remained largely congestion-free. If you check traffic maps now, the Bhor Ghat stretch consistently appears green, which was rarely the case earlier. Another issue we noticed was motorists stopping on the valley bridge to click photographs and shoot videos. Since the shoulder lane had enough space, people started parking their vehicles there, which created a safety hazard," Chikhale said....