Navi Mumbai To Get New Pedestrian Bridge On Vashi–Koparkhairane Route To Ease Heavy Congestion
Navi Mumbai To Get New Pedestrian Bridge On Vashi–Koparkhairane Route To Ease Heavy Congestion
The long-pending skywalk proposal revives hopes of safer movement and reduced traffic jams in one of the city’s busiest corridors.
The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has approved the construction of a new pedestrian bridge in the Gulabchand Dairy stretch on the Vashi–Koparkhairane route — one of the most crowded and frequently gridlocked corridors in the region.
For years, the stretch from D-Mart Chowk to Teen Tanki in Koparkhairane has suffered daily traffic jams, largely due to the heavy pedestrian movement from residential pockets, markets, schools and nearby bus stops. The situation worsens during peak hours, often bringing traffic to a complete halt.
Residents have been demanding a dedicated skywalk here for nearly two decades. With the proposal finally moving ahead, locals are hopeful that the new structure will ease bottlenecks and offer safer passage for thousands of daily commuters.
According to officials, the pedestrian bridge will be built at Koparkhairane Sector 15 on the Vashi–Koparkhairane main road. The estimated cost of the project is ₹6.59 crore. The design includes escalators and lifts to ensure accessibility for senior citizens, children and people with disabilities.
While an earlier skywalk constructed in Vashi Sector 9–10 saw limited public use due to its location within a busy market, municipal authorities believe the new bridge is strategically placed and will directly address a long-standing traffic choke point.
The Vashi–Koparkhairane corridor is known as Navi Mumbai’s busiest internal route, witnessing jams every morning, afternoon and night across key points such as Juhu Village, R.F. Naik Chowk and Sector 15 Naka. With schools, colleges and dense residential clusters on both sides, the need for pedestrian segregation has been urgent.
Local corporators, including Ravindra Mahatre, have repeatedly highlighted the issue, even undertaking hunger strikes to push for the bridge. Residents of Sectors 15 to 18, many of whom walk daily from the railway station, frequently cross the road en masse, adding to the congestion.
The pedestrian bridge is expected to streamline movement, reduce jaywalking and improve overall traffic flow. For commuters travelling between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, this project is being viewed as a long-overdue step toward safer, smoother mobility across the city’s most critical link road.
