October 1, 2025: Navi Mumbai, often referred to as the Flamingo City and now emerging as Maharashtra’s next IT hub, is undergoing rapid urban transformation. Redevelopment schemes and large-scale residential projects are reshaping the skylines of Vashi, Koparkhairane, and Ghansoli, while improved international airport connectivity is expected to draw more residents to the belt.
However, this anticipated population surge has raised pressing concerns over traffic congestion, particularly on the busy Vashi-Koparkhairane Link Road.
To address the issue, Vaibhav Sawant, General Secretary of the Navi Mumbai Congress, has written to Municipal Commissioner Dr Kailas Shinde urging the planning of a coastal road or sea link between Vashi and Airoli. Sawant argued that the city’s existing infrastructure, largely developed by CIDCO, is no longer adequate to cope with the rising number of vehicles.
“In every household today, there are both two-wheelers and four-wheelers. Following the reduction of GST by the central government, vehicle purchases have increased, placing immense strain on Navi Mumbai’s narrow roads,” Sawant noted in his letter.
He further highlighted that redevelopment in Koparkhairane and Ghansoli is accelerating, with ageing three- and four-storey blocks being replaced by towers soaring up to 28 storeys. Such high-density housing, he warned, will only worsen traffic bottlenecks on the Vashi-Koparkhairane stretch unless alternative corridors are developed.
The Congress leader has proposed a coastal road beginning at Sagar Vihar near Vashi, running along Palm Beach Road towards Ghansoli, and connecting to Airoli. “This road would act as a freeway for residents of Juhugaon, Sector 12, Koparkhairane and Ghansoli, while also easing the commute for motorists travelling towards Mulund. It would significantly ease the burden on the Vashi-Koparkhairane Road,” he explained, according to Punya Nagari.
Citizens and planners alike believe that as redevelopment reshapes Navi Mumbai, forward-looking projects such as a Vashi-Airoli coastal link will be crucial in ensuring smooth connectivity and long-term mobility.
Source: The Free Press Journal
