Access to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport is set to become significantly faster with the finalisation of a new signal-free interchange connecting the Atal Setu sea bridge to the Ulwe Coastal Road. Planned near Shivaji Nagar in the Gavhan area, the interchange is expected to reduce the airport’s last-mile travel time to nearly 10 minutes, offering major relief to commuters travelling between South Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
Urban development officials confirmed that detailed engineering designs have been approved for a six-ramp, grade-separated interchange that will enable uninterrupted traffic flow from the Atal Setu into Navi Mumbai’s key transport corridors. At present, vehicles exiting the sea bridge can take up to 40 minutes to reach the airport area due to multiple junctions and internal roads. Once the new interchange becomes operational, the total journey from South Mumbai to the airport is projected to drop to under 40 minutes.
The proposed structure will replace the existing signal-controlled junction with a high-capacity, cloverleaf-style configuration. Multi-lane ramps, directional loops and slip roads will channel traffic immediately after entry into Navi Mumbai. Transport planners associated with the project said the layout is designed to segregate airport-bound passenger vehicles from freight traffic moving towards port and industrial zones, thereby improving safety and easing congestion across Ulwe, Panvel and Uran.
The interchange is a key component of the seven-kilometre Ulwe Coastal Road, which links new residential districts, logistics hubs and coastal industrial areas. The corridor also incorporates a railway overbridge over the Nerul–Uran line, enhancing multimodal connectivity in a region undergoing rapid growth driven by airport- and port-led development.
From a planning standpoint, the project reflects a wider push towards signal-free, access-controlled road networks aimed at improving fuel efficiency and cutting idling emissions. Environmental safeguards have been integrated into the design, with structures planned on stilts to minimise ground disturbance in sensitive coastal zones and compensatory mangrove plantation measures included.
These safeguards have contributed to cost escalations, taking the overall project value close to ₹1,600 crore. While some statutory approvals are still pending, agencies continue to target completion by August 2026. Urban experts note that timely execution will be crucial, as airport connectivity often shapes real estate demand, logistics investment and employment growth.
Source: Urban Acres
