The first two phases of the Airoli-Katai Elevated Corridor are scheduled to open in July, marking a major step towards improving road connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The project is expected to ease congestion and reduce travel time for commuters travelling between Navi Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan and Dombivli.
According to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the initial stretches of the elevated corridor have reached the final stage of completion and are being prepared for inauguration. The project has progressed under regular reviews conducted by Member of Parliament Dr Shrikant Eknath Shinde through site inspections, coordination meetings and discussions with senior MMRDA officials.
The 12.71-km Airoli-Katai Elevated Corridor is among the region’s key transport infrastructure projects. Once fully operational, it is expected to shorten the distance between Airoli and Dombivli by nearly 10 kilometres, reducing travel time by around 30 to 45 minutes. The corridor is also expected to enable travel between Navi Mumbai and Dombivli in approximately 15 minutes.
MMRDA officials said over 92 per cent of the work on the 3.43-km first phase, extending from Thane-Belapur Road to National Highway-4 (NH-4), has been completed, with only finishing works remaining. The 2.57-km second phase, connecting Airoli with Thane-Belapur Road, has been completed. Both sections are proposed to be inaugurated together before opening to traffic next month.
The opening of these phases is expected to improve traffic flow at key bottlenecks, including Mahape, Shilphata, Kalyan Phata and Thane-Belapur Road. The elevated corridor will provide uninterrupted connectivity between the Mulund-Airoli Bridge, Thane-Belapur Road and NH-4, helping reduce travel time, fuel consumption and transportation costs.
The project is also expected to improve freight movement across the industrial hubs of Navi Mumbai, Thane and Kalyan by facilitating faster transportation of goods.
Construction of the 6.71-km third and final phase, stretching from NH-4 to Katai Naka, is currently underway and is expected to be completed within the next 12 to 18 months. Once finished, the entire corridor will serve as a high-speed transport link connecting Navi Mumbai, Thane, Dombivli and Kalyan, strengthening regional connectivity and supporting future economic growth.
Source: The Free Press Journal
