MMRDA Announces Rs 69 Crore Project to Boost Connectivity Between Thane and Bhayandar
Thane, 1st August 2024: The Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) is set to enhance connectivity between Thane and Bhayandar through the construction of a 5.5-kilometer tunnel and a 9.8-kilometer elevated road. With an estimated budget of ₹69 crore, the project is expected to be completed within 4.5 years, contingent on finalizing contracts and obtaining necessary approvals.
This dedicated route will not only directly link Thane with Bhayandar but also alleviate traffic congestion, addressing the current issues on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway (NH 48), which is in poor condition and contributing to significant delays and accidents.
According to MMRDA officials, the development will be executed in two phases: a tunnel connecting Gaimukh and Fountain Hotel in Thane Ghodbunder, and an elevated road extending from Fountain Hotel to Bhayandar, bypassing the Mira Road-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation areas.
The tunnel, projected to cost ₹41 crore, will span 3.5 kilometres with three lanes in each direction. The elevated road is anticipated to cost over ₹28 crore. “Given the presence of mangroves along the bay shore, we are planning an eight-lane elevated road that will connect to the proposed Versova-Bhayandar coastal road via an internal road,” an official explained.
This initiative is distinct from the planned 11.8-kilometre tunnel linking Thane and Borivali, for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently laid the foundation stone. This tunnel, estimated at ₹16,600 crores, will pass under the Sanjay Gandhi National Park and is expected to reduce the travel distance between Thane and Borivali by 12 kilometres, saving approximately one hour in travel time.
