Relief for commuters from Mumbai to Pune as Thane Creek Bridge -3 set to be partially opened this month

The entire bridge will be ready by January next year, when the other three lanes for the Pune-Mumbai section will be opened, the official added.

Earlier in January, a new toll plaza featuring 10 staggered toll lanes on each side of the Thane Creek Bridge was inaugurated.

The Mumbai-Pune corridor is now set to be commissioned for traffic, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to inaugurate it during his upcoming visit to Mumbai.

The 1.8-km bridge, built parallel to the existing Thane Creek Bridge -2, is being constructed by the renowned company Larsen and Toubro.

When asked why both corridors of the bridge are not opening simultaneously, the official explained that focusing manpower on one corridor would expedite the process.

The Thane Creek Bridge -3 project has faced delays, pushing back its completion deadlines. The initial target to open one side carriage of this bridge was April, which has now been extended.

Delays were also caused due to objections from the fisherfolk community, who expressed concerns over potential impacts on their livelihoods.

These concerns were later addressed, and compensation was provided. The bridge has been expanded with six additional lanes—three on each side—to accommodate anticipated increases in traffic, particularly with the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport scheduled to commence operations in March 2025. The new airport is expected to handle 20 million passengers annually.