07 May,2026 01:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/MMRDA
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Thursday said significant progress has been achieved on the Airoli-Katai Naka corridor project, a major transport infrastructure initiative aimed at improving connectivity between Navi Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli and surrounding areas across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
According to MMRDA, the 12.71-km corridor is being developed as a continuous high-speed route connecting Airoli, Mumbra and Katai Naka. The authority said the project is expected to reduce travel distance, ease traffic congestion on existing roads and improve movement of both commuters and goods traffic across the region.
The project is being implemented in three phases. MMRDA stated that Phase II has been fully completed, while Phase I is nearing completion and Phase III is under construction.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the project would strengthen connectivity between key growth centres and support economic development in the state.
"This corridor is not just a road project; it is a strategic investment in Maharashtra's future. Both phase I and phase ll are in its final stages of completion and shall be commissioned this year. By strengthening connectivity across key growth centres, it will accelerate economic activity, improve logistics, and enhance the quality of life for citizens across the region. As we move towards our vision of Mumbai 3.0, projects like the Airoli-Katai Naka corridor will play a pivotal role in decongesting the core city, unlocking new urban corridors, and driving balanced, sustainable development across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and beyond," Fadnavis said.
According to MMRDA, the corridor is expected to reduce overall travel time by 30 to 45 minutes once all three phases are completed. The authority added that the route could shorten the distance between Mulund and Katai Naka by nearly 7 to 8 km.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and MMRDA Chairman Eknath Shinde said the project would improve east-west connectivity in the region and help ease congestion on heavily used routes in Thane and Navi Mumbai. He added that the corridor is expected to save commuters considerable travel time on a daily basis.
"This high-speed Airoli-Katai Naka corridor is a major connectivity boost for Thane and Navi Mumbai, especially with the tunnel link enabling faster and more seamless travel between the two regions. At MMRDA, our goal is to make the Mumbai Metropolitan Region more livable and to make everyday life easier for our citizens. By easing congestion and creating seamless connectivity across key growth centres, we are not only enabling faster commutes but also supporting the region's expanding economic landscape. This project will not only significantly reduce travel time by 35 to 40 minutes but also give people something far more valuable time. Time that they can spend with their families, improving their overall quality of life. That is the true impact of infrastructure done right," Shinde said.
MMRDA said Phase I, which stretches from the Thane-Belapur Road to NH-04, includes a 1.69-km twin tunnel and a 0.94-km elevated road. The tunnel has been designed with three traffic lanes and one refuge lane in each tube. Civil works for the tunnel are currently 92 per cent complete, according to the authority.
The project uses the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), which MMRDA said is suitable for complex geological conditions. Advanced tunnel systems including ventilation, firefighting infrastructure, high-pressure water mist systems, intelligent lighting and variable message signage are also being installed.
The authority stated that the tunnel and elevated stretch will provide a direct link between Airoli and NH-04 at Mumbra, bypassing congestion-prone junctions such as Mahape, Shil Phata and Kalyan Phata.
MMRDA said Phase II, a 2.57-km elevated road connecting Airoli to the Thane-Belapur Road, has been fully completed and will be opened along with Phase I to ensure uninterrupted connectivity.
Phase III, which will extend the corridor from NH-04 to Katai Naka along the Kalyan-Shil Road corridor, is currently around 10 per cent complete, according to the authority. The final phase includes a fully elevated 6.71-km corridor with service roads and multiple entry and exit ramps. MMRDA has set an October 2028 completion target for this phase.
Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee said the authority is adopting a phased commissioning strategy to make completed infrastructure available to the public without waiting for the entire project to finish. He said the corridor is expected to significantly improve daily travel across the MMR and reduce congestion at major bottlenecks such as Shil Phata.
"Be it metro projects or road infrastructure, our approach is clear we are opening projects in phases instead of waiting for the entire project to be completed. This ensures that ready infrastructure is made available to citizens at the earliest, allowing them to benefit sooner rather than later. The Airoli-Katai Naka corridor is going to change the way people move across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. By creating a seamless, high-speed connectivity spine between major urban nodes, it will make every day travel smoother and more efficient - not just for commuters, but also for the movement of goods. Once the entire Airoli-Katai Naka corridor is fully completed, citizens will truly experience what âMumbai in Minutes' means in real, everyday travel. Traffic at busy junctions like Shilphata, which remain congested 24/7, 365 days a year, will see a clear difference, making travel smoother, faster, and far more comfortable for citizens," Mukherjee said.
