Changing City: Eastern Freeway extension work begins; to cut travel time between South Mumbai, Thane to 30 minutes
Spanning a total length of 13.90 km, the elevated corridor will pass through Ghatkopar over Ramabai Nagar, Vikhroli, Kanjurmarg, JVLR, Airoli, Mulund, and will end at Anand Nagar in Thane.
In an extension of the Eastern Freeway, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has commenced work on the Rs 2,682-crore elevated corridor from Chheda Nagar near Chembur to Thane’s Anand Nagar.
What is the plan?
The MMRDA has charted a plan to expand the Eastern Freeway in a bid to provide a signal-free commute between South Mumbai and Thane. As part of this, the development authority has envisaged a plan to construct an elevated road from Chheda Nagar in Ghatkopar to Thane’s Anand Nagar.
At present, the Eastern freeway ends at Mankhurd in the eastern suburbs. Forming an extension to the freeway, the new elevated road will commence near the landing of the freeway from Chheda Nagar. Spanning a total length of 13.90 km, the corridor will pass through Ghatkopar over Ramabai Nagar, Vikhroli, Kanjurmarg, JVLR, Airoli, Mulund, and finally end at Anand Nagar in Thane.
In Thane, the project will later link to another elevated corridor, the Anand Nagar to Saket project in Thane city, at Mulund Octroi Naka.
For South-bound commuters, the authority has also proposed two-lane up and down ramps for exit and entry at three locations — near Mulund Check Naka, Airoli Junction, and near the Vikhroli Junction.
Features
The project spans across a stretch of 13.90 km with the superstructure encompassing a width of 25 metres. With three lanes on each carriageway, the corridor will comprise of six lanes altogether. Meanwhile, the length of the span is 40 metres.
Current Status
The MMRDA has currently completed preliminary survey and test piling work. With the project slated to affect about 700 trees along the Eastern Express Highway, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has also put up notices on trees.
Story continues below this ad
At present, the authority is undertaking a geotechnical investigation and utility identification. Besides, the casting of piers has commenced on ground. So far, about 5.38 per cent of the physical work has been executed.
Timeline of construction
Work on the project is estimated to take four years. Of the total period, 12 months have been earmarked for design and environment clearance, while the construction work is expected to be executed in 36 months.
Administration speaks
Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, IAS, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA, said: “Under the ‘Mumbai in Minutes’ initiative, we are reimagining urban connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Once completed, this corridor will make travel from South Mumbai to Thane -Saket seamless — signal-free, and time-efficient. Commuters will be able to reach their destinations within 20 to 25 minutes, significantly reducing congestion and improving regional mobility. This project is a crucial link in our effort to integrate the city’s road and metro networks, ensuring that people and productivity move faster than ever before.”
Nayonika Bose is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau. While in the early stages of her career, her focused reporting on local governance and community welfare already demonstrates clear Expertise and Trustworthiness in covering essential civic issues impacting Mumbai's residents.
Expertise & Authority (E-E-A-T)
Specialized Focus: Nayonika's reporting is dedicated to civic and community issues, providing readers with highly relevant, ground-level information about the functionality and administration of India's largest metropolitan area.
Core Coverage Areas: Her articles highlight a strong focus on the fundamental quality of life and public safety in Mumbai, including:
Civic Infrastructure: Reports on critical failures and initiatives related to public works, such as the recurring problem of unauthorized building collapses in Navi Mumbai, the construction of new infrastructure projects (like the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road and the Mahalaxmi cable-stayed bridge), and the maintenance of essential city services (e.g., manhole cover theft).
Urban Governance & Crisis Management: Provides detailed coverage of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) response to major crises, particularly during the monsoon (e.g., heavy rainfall, water cuts, and public health concerns like dengue and malaria) and large-scale public safety incidents (e.g., the hoarding collapse fallout).
Community Welfare & Rights: Reports on key social issues, including the financial aid scheme for persons with disabilities, the struggles of Mumbai's hawkers protesting eviction drives, and the dangers faced by workers due to the continuation of manual scavenging in water tanks.
Cultural & Heritage Reporting: Covers significant community stories, including the restoration of British-era fountains and the history of institutions like the 126-year-old Chinchpokli cemetery, showing a breadth of interest beyond pure administration.
Tweets @nayonikakb ... Read More
