How Thane civic body plans to improve road infrastructure with several projects

Another critical project is the Thane-Borivali Tunnel, which will pass under the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, drastically reducing travel time between the two locations. Currently, commuters must take the 23 km route via Ghodbunder Road or the Eastern Express Highway.

The upcoming 11.85-km tunnel, including 10.25 km of underground passage, will cut the travel time between Thane and Borivali to 10-15 minutes. The project, estimated at Rs 16,600.40 crore, began in May 2023 and is expected to ease congestion while also linking to the Mumbai Coastal Road via an elevated corridor.

To enhance pedestrian safety, nine foot overbridges (FOBs) will be constructed along the Wadala-Kasarvadavali-Gaimukh Metro corridor. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has initiated work on these bridges, ensuring safe access to metro stations. Additionally, existing foot overbridges on Ghodbunder Road will be connected to metro stations for seamless movement.

Thane’s arterial Ghodbunder Road will also see improvements. The service roads on both sides will be merged into the main carriageway to increase road width and reduce congestion. MMRDA has also planned flyovers beneath the Metro line at major junctions along Ghodbunder Road to facilitate smoother traffic movement.

Another crucial project is the Eastern Freeway extension, which currently ends at Ghatkopar. Vehicles heading towards Nashik and Ghodbunder Road must pass through Thane’s traffic-heavy areas, causing severe congestion. To address this, a 14-km elevated road will be built from Kopri Toll Naka to Kanhaiya Nagar and then to Saket before merging with the Coastal Road. The project, sanctioned by MMRDA, has an estimated cost of Rs 2,900 crore.

Additionally, an 8.25-km elevated road will be constructed on the Eastern Express Highway between Anand Nagar and Saket, costing ₹1,275 crore. This three-lane corridor will allow vehicles from Mumbai to bypass Thane city, reducing congestion and pollution.

A new underpass has been opened to improve connectivity between Kopri, Wagle Estate, and Thane, offering an alternative route to ease congestion at Teen Haath Naka. The new suburban railway station near Kopri, expected to be completed by December 2025, will provide a direct link between Thane East and West, enhancing access to the new rail network.