Thane–Navi Mumbai Elevated Road To Cut Travel Time To New Airport
Thane–Navi Mumbai Elevated Road To Cut Travel Time To New Airport
State approves Rs.6,363 crore project with six interchanges to ease passenger access to Navi Mumbai International Airport.
The upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 30, is driving major infrastructure upgrades across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. While domestic flights will begin operating from November and international flights in phases thereafter, authorities are preparing to handle 20 lakh passengers annually once the facility is fully functional. By 2038, the airport is expected to serve nearly 9 crore passengers every year.
To support this growth, the government has cleared a 25.2-km elevated road between Thane and Navi Mumbai Airport. The project, costing ₹6,363 crore, will be built on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model. Designed to provide a signal-free and time-saving connection, the route will require toll payments.
What Will the Elevated Road Include?
- A 25.2 km, six-lane elevated expressway connecting Thane and Mira-Bhayander to NMIA.
- Six interchanges for smooth connectivity: Kopri Patni Bridge, Ghansoli–Airoli Creek Bridge, Sion–Panvel Highway, Palm Beach Road, Ulwe Coastal Road, and the upcoming Vikhroli–Koparkhairane Creek Bridge.
- Direct integration with the proposed Thane Coastal Road (Part II) and Ulwe Coastal Road, ensuring seamless access to NMIA terminals.
Boost for Mumbai–Navi Mumbai Connectivity
Currently, Navi Mumbai and Mumbai are linked by two key creek bridges—Vashi Creek Bridge and the Mulund–Airoli Link Road. Both are heavily congested, catering to traffic from central and western suburbs. A third creek bridge, between Vikhroli and Koparkhairane, has now been greenlit and will significantly reduce travel times once operational.
Additionally, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has begun widening Palm Beach Road between Ghansoli and Airoli to further ease east–west traffic flow. The new elevated highway, along with the third creek bridge, is expected to provide a faster and more reliable connection from Thane, Kalyan, Bhiwandi, and Dombivli to NMIA.
