There is relief in sight for the motorists who have been enduring long traffic snarls on the old Mumbai-Nashik Highway stretch between Thane and Vadpe due to road-widening work after the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) picked up the pace of construction, significantly improving progress on the project. According to MSRDC officials, over 75 per cent of the work has already been completed, and the remaining portion is being fast-tracked.
Motorists Bhima J (right) Raj Pawar
Confirming the development, an MSRDC official said, “About 75 per cent of the eight-laning work on the Thane-Vadpe stretch of the Mumbai-Nashik Highway has been completed. The project is expected to be fully finished by March 2026, which should ease traffic and reduce inconvenience for motorists travelling towards the Samruddhi Highway near Amane.”
Long hours in traffic
At present, motorists travelling from Thane towards the starting point of the Samruddhi Mahamarg near Amane are forced to use the old Mumbai-Nashik Highway. Due to the ongoing eight-laning work and the construction of bridges over the creek, traffic congestion is common during peak hours. As a result, commuters often take 90-120 minutes to cover the 23-km stretch between Thane and Vadpe.
Benefit to motorists
Once finished, the upgraded stretch is expected to ease congestion, improve traffic flow, and reduce travel time to 30-40 minutes, which also means that motorists can expect a smoother and hassle-free drive on this crucial highway section.
What do motorists say?
Raj Pawar, a motorist, said, “Because of the ongoing eight-laning work on the Mumbai-Nashik Highway between Thane and Vadpe, traffic congestion is common during peak hours, and it often takes 90 to 120 minutes to cover just 23 km. Owing to this, I now prefer travelling from Nashik to Mumbai by long-distance train. We hope the work is completed soon so that we can use the Samruddhi Highway up to Amane and then the old Mumbai-Nashik Highway to reach Thane.”
Another motorist, Bhima J, said, “For over two years, commuters have been struggling with severe traffic congestion caused by the ongoing road-widening work between Thane and Bhiwandi. At times, it takes more than 90 minutes and even up to two hours to cover the 23-km stretch, which ideally should take less than 45 minutes. We hope the authorities expedite the completion of the project while ensuring proper quality.”
