Once the new Airoli-Katai Naka Road comes up, the long queue of vehicles at Shilphata Road will be a thing of the past. Completion of the road project will ease the heavy traffic on Shilphata Road and cut the travel time between Katai Naka and Airoli by approximately 30 minutes. It will benefit commuters traveling to Kalyan, Ambernath and Badlapur from Mumbai. The project, implemented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), is expected to accelerate development in fast-growing areas like Kalyan-Dombivli and Navi Mumbai. Alignment The total length of the road is 12.3 km, which is divided into three parts. The first part entails construction of a 3.43-km road between the Thane-Belapur road and National Highway-4. This phase includes a 1.69-km-long twin tunnel of 3+3 lanes and 1+1 emergency lane and the rest will be elevated and normal roads. The work of the elevated portion is now 92 per cent complete and 66 per cent of the tunnel work has been done, officials said. In the second phase, a 2.57-km fully elevated road will connect Mulund-Airoli bridge and Thane-Belapur road. Over 67 per cent of the work in this section has been completed. The third phase includes a 6.30-km fully elevated road, connecting NH-4 and Katai Naka at Kalyan-Shil Road. Benefits The new road will reduce heavy traffic on the existing Shilphata Road while helping to save fuel and cut the travel time of commuters by around 30 minutes. It will boost development in MMR areas such as Kalyan, Ambernath, Navi Mumbai and connected areas. Estimated cost Rs 237. 55 crore Start date November 2017 Completion target In the next eight months, the project is expected to be fully complete and opened to traffic. Challenges To carry out the project in the creek and mangrove areas without disturbing the eco sensitive zone. Besides, the project comprising a twin tunnel through Parsik Hill is crucial and challenging. Add to this the troubles of working on a busy National Highway and functional stretches through which the new road alignment passes. Special night-time traffic curbs were put in place to carry the heavyweight steel girders while it crossed state highways. Protection wall at Parsik Hill The MMRDA also will construct a Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) wall as a protection wall barricading the hill so the movement of traffic is not disturbed and to avert landslide risk and instances of loose boulders falling on vehicles. What officials say According to MMRDA Commissioner S V R Srinivas, “The Airoli-Katai Naka new elevated road is a marquee project in MMR. It provides major relief to commuters who are using the existing Shilphata Road which sees heavy traffic. The new road will act as a faster alternative for commuters traveling to and from Mumbai.”
