Ghodbunder Road width to be doubled in two years

Thane: A 4.5km long portion of the arterial Ghodbunder Road between Gaimukh and Fountain Hotel is set to be widened in the next two years, adding more lanes and easing traffic movement. The state govt approved the works on Monday, Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik informed on Tuesday.
Sarnaik stated that the widening of the highway stretch from the existing 30m width to 60m was part of the approved development plan of Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation.The increased lane numbers on the stretch would help ease bottlenecks and congestion spots for Gujarat and JNPT-bound traffic on the route. The MMRDA planned to float tenders for the project, and work would commence only after the model code of conduct ended, he said.
Presently, the eight-lane highway between Kapurbawdi and Owala-Gaimukh within the Thane corporation limits narrows down between Gaimukh and Fountain Hotel, impacting the pace of traffic at either end. The development would enable the smooth passage of the multitude of heavy freight and city traffic crossing the Gaimukh and Fountain Hotel stretch of the state highway, which connects the Ahmedabad Highway with the Nashik Highway and JNPT.
"There was a significant increase in vehicle numbers, leading to frequent traffic congestion on this stretch. The Gaimukh to Dahisar metro line would also cross the stretch, necessitating the widening, which was approved by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde a few months ago. The Urban Development Department gave its approval to the same. MMRDA, which would be executing the work, also prepared the estimated costs for the project," Sarnaik said.
The MMRDA was likely to widen the highway by 15 m on either side, following which agricultural land belonging to native tribal farmers was likely to be affected. Sarnaik urged the govt to compensate the landowners similarly to the package given during land acquisition while constructing the Samruddhi Mahamarg.
Meanwhile, experts and observers questioned if the project was likely to be completed, as the stretch passed through the notified area, which required permissions from the forest department at multiple levels. A public works department plan for strengthening the GB road network on the stretch was delayed and subsequently curtailed by several months due to the process, officials said.