Travel between Thane and Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is expected to become significantly faster with the proposed 25.287-km elevated corridor being developed by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO). The project aims to bring down the journey time from more than 90 minutes to approximately 30 minutes, improving airport connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
The corridor is being planned to accommodate the anticipated increase in passenger movement to NMIA, which commenced operations in December 2025. The route will begin near Patni, close to Airoli Knowledge Park, and extend up to the international airport.
The infrastructure project will comprise a combination of elevated stretches, existing roads, flyovers and newly developed road sections. It will pass through Airoli, Ghansoli, Kopar Khairane, Vashi and Ulwe, running above the Airoli-Ghansoli Link Road and Palm Beach Road.
Connectivity will also be provided to major routes, including the Mumbai-Satara Highway (NH-48), Airoli-Katai Naka corridor, Mulund-Airoli Road, Ghatkopar-Kopar Khairane Link Road and Thane Creek Bridge.
The initial connection to Thane will be facilitated through the 1.4-km Kopri-Patni Creek bridge, which is currently being constructed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
Designed as a six-lane corridor, the project will include seven bus bays to facilitate public transport services. Besides improving airport access, it is expected to ease congestion along Palm Beach Road and Thane-Belapur Road by diverting a portion of the existing traffic.
Project Status and Timeline
After remaining under the approval process for several months, CIDCO invited tenders last week for executing the corridor under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The estimated project cost stands at Rs 6,027.58 crore, with toll revenue planned as the mechanism for recovering the investment.
The contractor selection process is expected to conclude by early 2027, following which construction will commence. The project is targeted for completion within three years of execution.
Source: The Indian Express
