The government order, issued under GR No. MRD-3326/PR.No.63/NV-7 and signed by Joint Secretary Vijay Chaudhary, follows a decision taken at the Cabinet Infrastructure Committee meeting chaired by the Chief Minister on June 9, 2026. The project will be implemented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis under a Public-Private Partnership model with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support.

Why This Project Exists

The Western Express Highway (WEH) is the single most important north-south arterial road connecting Mumbai to Gujarat via National Highway 48. It handles three very different categories of traffic simultaneously — long-distance regional vehicles headed to Palghar, Vasai, Virar and beyond; cross-traffic moving toward Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Nashik and Panvel via the Mumbra Bypass; and purely local traffic within Bhayandar and its surrounding areas. These flows compete for the same road space, and the result is a highway that routinely operates beyond its designed capacity.

During peak hours, average speeds on the WEH near Bhayandar have dropped below 20 km per hour. Widening the highway is not a realistic option given the limited right-of-way available on either side. The government has therefore concluded that an alternative parallel corridor — one that can separate regional through-traffic from local movements — is the only sustainable solution.

The Mumbai North Coastal Road Project, which already terminates near Uttan Road Junction, feeds most of its traffic into Ghodbunder Junction, further concentrating pressure at this chokepoint. The proposed elevated bridge and tunnel project directly addresses this by creating a new connection between Bhayandar and Ghodbunder that bypasses the congested surface road network entirely.

What Is Being Built and Where

The project has two distinct physical components that together form a continuous 15.44 km corridor.

The first is a 9.58 km elevated creek bridge from Bhayandar to Fountain Hotel Junction, configured as a 3+3 lane structure — three lanes in each direction. This elevated section will cross the Bhayandar creek, one of the geographic barriers that has historically made east-west connectivity in this zone difficult and expensive to build.

The second component is a 5.86 km twin tunnel from Fountain Hotel Junction to Gaimukh — a 3+3 double-bore tunnel running underground through the stretch leading into Ghodbunder. This tunnel section allows the road to avoid the densely developed surface areas between Fountain Hotel Junction and Ghodbunder without requiring demolition of existing structures or displacement of large settled populations.

Together, the two components create a seamless elevated-then-underground corridor that will allow vehicles to travel between Bhayandar and Gaimukh — and by extension between the Western Express Highway and Ghodbunder Road — without touching a single surface junction in between.

The project will be built over five years. Private land required for construction is approximately 57.76 hectares, which MMRDA is directed to acquire under applicable land acquisition laws including the 2013 Central Land Acquisition Act and Transfer of Development Rights mechanisms where appropriate.

The Financial Structure

The total project completion cost is ₹17,036.03 crore, with an additional ₹713.94 crore for land acquisition and rehabilitation — bringing the total to ₹17,306 crore as sanctioned.

The base construction cost is ₹9,927 crore, which after applying price escalation of 4% over three years, engineering and design fees at 2%, tunnel royalty charges, GST at 18%, and labour welfare cess comes to ₹12,947 crore. Adding contingency, pre-operative costs, insurance, escalation during construction, interest during construction of ₹1,545 crore, and financing charges of ₹52 crore brings the total project cost to ₹17,036 crore.

The funding is structured across four sources. The central government will contribute ₹3,407.21 crore as VGF — 20% of the project cost. The state government will match this with another ₹3,407.21 crore as its VGF share — another 20%. The private concessionaire will raise debt of ₹6,814.41 crore — 40% — on its own account, with no state guarantee. The concessionaire’s equity contribution will be ₹3,407.21 crore — the remaining 20%. Land acquisition and rehabilitation costs of ₹713.94 crore are entirely MMRDA’s responsibility and sit outside the main project cost.

The project’s financial internal rate of return (FIRR) is assessed at 11.78% and the economic internal rate of return (EIRR) at 14.02% — indicating the project is viable both commercially and in terms of broader social and economic returns.

Dedicated access-controlled tolling will apply to the corridor under MMRDA Act provisions, and additional revenue will be generated through advertising and utility corridor charges — all of which will flow into the state’s Urban Transport Fund.

Who Benefits and How

For residents of Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar, and Palghar, the most immediate benefit is the creation of a fast, uninterrupted road link into Mumbai that does not depend on the surface WEH during peak hours. Today, a journey from Bhayandar to Ghodbunder Road — a distance of roughly 15 km — can easily take 45 minutes to over an hour in traffic. A dedicated elevated-plus-tunnel corridor with no surface junctions has the potential to reduce that to under 20 minutes.

For commuters who use Ghodbunder Road to access Thane, or who travel from the Western suburbs toward Nashik and Pune via Thane, the relief at Ghodbunder Junction itself will be significant. Much of the congestion at that junction today is caused by vehicles that have no real business being there — they are simply using it as a forced transit point because no better option exists. Once this corridor opens, regional through-traffic from the north will be able to bypass the surface network almost entirely.

For residents of areas along the Ghodbunder corridor — Hiranandani Estate, Majiwada, Pokhran Road, and the rapidly developing residential belts of Thane West — the downstream benefit is reduced pressure on Ghodbunder Road itself, which has been struggling with its own capacity issues as residential density along the corridor has grown sharply.

The project has also been granted in-principle approval for Transit-Oriented Development under the MRTP Act, 1966, which means the government is already thinking about how to leverage the corridor’s new accessibility to enable residential and commercial development along its influence zone — potentially creating a new real estate corridor connecting Bhayandar and Ghodbunder in the years after the project opens.

MMRDA has been directed to submit a time-bound implementation schedule within 15 days and to apply for Urban Challenge Fund support from the central government — though implementation is approved to proceed without waiting for that clearance.

Also Read: Maharashtra Clears ₹220 Cr for Affordable Housing Under PMAY (Urban)

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A High-Speed Corridor Connecting Thane to Mumbai’s Eastern Suburbs

The elevated freeway will stretch from Anand Nagar in Thane to Chheda Nagar in Ghatkopar, passing through key nodes including:

• Mulund
• Airoli
• JVLR
• Vikhroli
• Kanjurmarg
• Mankhurd
• Ghatkopar

At Thane, the corridor will integrate seamlessly with the Anand Nagar–Saket Elevated Road near the old Mulund Octroi Naka, creating a continuous high-speed chain of connectivity.

It will also enhance onward access to the Samruddhi Mahamarg, strengthening links between Mumbai and Maharashtra’s emerging growth corridors.

Designed for Faster, Cleaner, Greener Commutes

The freeway extension is expected to:

• Decongest the Eastern Express Highway, one of Mumbai’s busiest arterial roads
• Reduce vehicular emissions by cutting travel time and idling
• Boost economic activity across the MMR (Mumbai Metropolitan Region)
• Improve commute reliability for lakhs of daily travellers

The MMRDA has also emphasized sustainable planning—saving 127 Pink Trumpet trees after realigning the Vikhroli–Ghatkopar portion. Additionally, 4,175 new trees will be planted as compensatory green cover.

Engineering Highlights: First-of-its-Kind Design in MMR

The project features advanced engineering systems, including:

2.5 m diameter monopiles
Robust piers and 40-metre spans
A 25-metre single-segment superstructure
Single-pile, single-pier system — the first for an elevated road in MMR
Up–down ramps near Mulund Check Naka, Airoli Junction, and Vikhroli Junction
3+3 lane elevated toll plaza near Navghar Flyover
Fully signal-free, uninterrupted high-speed movement

Progress Report: What’s Done and What’s Next?

As per the official update:

• Preliminary survey works are completed
• Test piles have been cast
• Geotechnical investigations are mostly finished
• Utility mapping is substantially complete
• Working piles and pier construction are currently underway

With construction progressing pillar-by-pillar, the elevated corridor is expected to reshape mobility patterns across the eastern corridor of Mumbai.

A Faster, Greener MMR Is Taking Shape

The Eastern Freeway Extension marks a major step towards creating a future-ready, sustainable, and well-connected Mumbai Metropolitan Region. As work advances, millions of commuters stand to benefit from drastically reduced travel times, smoother traffic flow, and improved air quality.

Also Read: Thane, Navi Mumbai, SBD North preferred Office locations

The post South Mumbai to Thane in Just 25 Minutes: MMRDA Begins Work on 13.9 km Elevated Eastern Freeway Extension appeared first on Square Feat India.

Project Overview

Scope and Objectives: The Mumbai Coastal Road Project is set to transform urban mobility by creating a dedicated high-capacity road network along the city’s coastline. This ambitious project includes a combination of elevated roads, tunnels, and undersea stretches, aimed at decongesting key traffic corridors and enhancing connectivity between central Mumbai and the western suburbs.

Components: The road will feature several critical components, including tunnels that cut through dense urban areas and elevated sections designed to bypass congested streets. The project also includes improved coastal infrastructure, parks, and pedestrian pathways, contributing to Mumbai’s urban landscape and quality of life.

Latest Milestone

Date of Achievement: In August 2024, the project achieved a major milestone with the completion of several key segments and substantial progress on tunneling work.

Details: The milestone marks the successful completion of multiple road segments and the nearing completion of major tunneling phases. These achievements are crucial steps toward realizing the full scope of the project and are expected to bring the completion date closer.

Impact: The recent progress is set to significantly enhance urban mobility by reducing travel times and easing congestion in some of Mumbai’s busiest areas. The completion of the tunnels and key road segments is expected to provide immediate benefits to commuters and support long-term urban planning goals.

Broader Implications

Traffic Relief: The project is anticipated to relieve pressure on existing road networks, particularly in congested areas along the western coast. By providing a new, high-capacity route, the Coastal Road Project aims to reduce travel time for thousands of daily commuters and improve overall traffic flow.

Urban Development: The development of the Coastal Road will also support urban regeneration efforts, promoting economic growth and enhancing the city’s attractiveness as a business and residential hub. The accompanying improvements to public spaces and infrastructure are expected to contribute to a higher quality of urban life.

Environmental Considerations: While the project promises substantial benefits, it is also addressing environmental concerns by incorporating green spaces and eco-friendly practices into its design and construction phases.

Next Steps

Upcoming Phases: The project will continue with the construction of additional road segments and the finalization of remaining tunneling work. Future milestones will include the completion of elevated sections and the integration of the road network with existing urban infrastructure.

Timeline: The Mumbai Coastal Road Project is on track for phased completion, with the entire road network expected to be operational by late 2025, barring any unforeseen delays.

Also Read: Mumbai Coastal Road: Paving the Way for Real Estate Boom in Western Suburbs

Conclusion: The achievement of this latest milestone underscores the significant progress of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project. As work continues, the project is set to deliver transformative benefits to Mumbai’s transportation network and urban environment, reflecting the city’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure and improving quality of life for its residents.

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