September 29, 2025: Relief from daily gridlock is on the horizon for commuters along Ghodbunder Road, one of Thane’s busiest thoroughfares, as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) prepares to widen it into a 14-lane concrete corridor. The upgrade, costing Rs 500 crore, forms part of a wider infrastructure package worth Rs 5,200 crore for the city.
“Thane is one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing parts of the MMR, and traffic congestion here must be addressed with both road and rail solutions,” MMRDA commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee told The Indian Express.
As part of the plan, 23 internal roads will be developed at a cost of ₹700 crore, while an elevated 3+3 lane Anand Nagar–Saket bypass, worth ₹1,800 crore, is also in the pipeline. In addition, the ₹2,200-crore Thane Coastal Road will create an east–west corridor running parallel to Ghodbunder Road.
The Ghodbunder upgrade is expected to permanently remove bottlenecks and ease travel for the lakhs of commuters who use the route daily. At present, peak-hour congestion significantly delays traffic towards Mumbai and adjoining suburbs.
The project is also designed to complement Thane’s expanding metro network. Once operational, Metro Lines 4, 4A, and 5 will provide high-capacity transit, thereby reducing dependency on road travel.
In parallel, the MMRDA is conducting a traffic simulation study to frame short-, medium-, and long-term strategies for managing congestion. “Together, these measures will ensure smoother local traffic flow, faster intercity connectivity, and a lasting solution to Thane’s congestion,” Mukherjee said.
Construction is expected to commence shortly, with efforts being coordinated alongside other infrastructure schemes to minimise disruption. The initiative underscores the MMRDA’s integrated approach of combining road and rail infrastructure to improve mobility across the region.
Source: The Indian Express
