Relief from Traffic Congestion: Thane to Widen Ghodbunder Road Section
Relief from Traffic Congestion: Thane to Widen Ghodbunder Road Section
The Ghodbunder road section from Gaimukh to Fountain Hotel junction will undergo expansion to 60 metres, allowing for approximately 8-10 lanes, a significant increase from its current four-lane capacity.
12th June 2024
Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik announced on Monday that the Ghodbunder road section from Gaimukh to Fountain Hotel junction will undergo expansion to 60 metres, allowing for approximately 8-10 lanes, a significant increase from its current four-lane capacity. This initiative aims to enhance traffic flow and facilitate quicker movement in the area.
Sarnaik addressed media inquiries regarding the traffic congestion experienced by commuters on the stretch within his Owala-Majiwada assembly constituency.
Sarnaik stated that the Chief Minister has approved his proposal to integrate service lanes on both sides of the Ghodbunder road into the main roadway, with the MMRDA overseeing its implementation. However, recognising that alleviating congestion on the Ghodbunder road requires a comprehensive approach, a new proposal has been submitted to widen the 4.4km stretch between Gaimukh and Fountain Hotel junction to 60 metres.
The Ghodbunder road serves as a crucial link connecting the Eastern and Western Express Highways, extending beyond Mumbai to reach destinations like Gujarat, Western Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune and JNPT. Currently, the state highway spans 42 metres in width with six lanes from Kapurbawdi to Gaimukh, complemented by 2×2 service lanes on each side.
However, the section between Gaimukh and Fountain Hotel narrows down to just 18 metres with four lanes, resulting in bottlenecks at both ends. This congestion not only affects traffic flow along the route but also within Thane city and the Ahmedabad highway.
Sarnaik mentioned that the Thane-bound side of the road falls under Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), leading to certain restrictions. Efforts are underway to add new lanes on the opposite side, potentially enabling vehicles to traverse the stretch quickly.
It’s worth noting that the state government is actively developing several bypass routes to alleviate congestion on Ghodbunder road. One such project is the Thane Coastal road, linking Kharegaon and Gaimukh, which aims to separate outbound and local traffic, thereby reducing overlap on the main stretch.
