The Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Motorway is now fully operational, marking a significant milestone in Maharashtra’s infrastructure development. However, a critical extension of the Mumbai-Nashik Highway remains unfinished, causing concern for commuters and authorities alike.
The ongoing project to widen the highway from four to eight lanes over a 23-kilometre stretch between Magathane and Vadpe has been underway for more than four years. Originally slated for completion before the opening of the Samruddhi Motorway, the project has missed several deadlines, with the revised target now set for February 2025.
The delay means that vehicles travelling from Mumbai and Thane towards Nashik via the Samruddhi Motorway, as well as traffic from Kalyan and Bhiwandi bound for Thane and Mumbai, are forced to navigate the unfinished Magathane-Vadpe section. This bottleneck has exacerbated already severe traffic congestion in the region.
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik assured that the Eastern Motorway and Ghodbunder Road in Thane are ready to accommodate increased traffic from the motorway. He also noted that visible progress on the Ghodbunder Road widening project would be evident within six months, which should help reduce travel times across Thane city.
The rapid growth of Bhiwandi as a warehousing hub has added to the region’s traffic woes. With the Samruddhi Motorway connecting near Amane in Bhiwandi and the forthcoming Mumbai-Delhi Highway also intersecting at this point, authorities anticipate traffic congestion to intensify unless urgent measures are taken.
The completion of the Magathane-Vadpe highway widening remains crucial to ensuring smooth connectivity and easing the traffic burden in this rapidly developing corridor.
Source: Times Of India
