Heavy vehicle traffic on Ghodbunder Road set to ease after Delhi-Mumbai freight corridor opens in 2026: Naresh Mhaske

Pic/Thane Municipal Corporation

Heavy vehicle movement on Ghodbunder Road is expected to reduce significantly once the Delhi-Mumbai Freight Corridor becomes operational in March 2026, Thane MP Naresh Mhaske said on Friday. The dedicated corridor will divert a major portion of container traffic from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), easing the load on the busy arterial road, he added.

Mhaske made the remarks during a review meeting held at the Late Arvind Pendse Auditorium in the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) headquarters. The meeting was convened to assess issues and pending works along Ghodbunder Road and nearby areas. Among those present were Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao, Additional Commissioner Sandeep Malavi, City Engineer Prashant Sonagra, DCP (Traffic) Pankaj Shirsat, Regional Transport Officer Hemangini Patil, as well as representatives from the Metro, MMRDA, PWD, MSEDCL, the Regional Transport Department, the Justice for Ghodbunder Road organisation and several housing societies.

Road Repairs and Infrastructure Concerns

Road conditions dominated the discussion, with complaints of potholes, uneven surfaces and damaged flyovers contributing to frequent accidents. Mhaske directed the MMRDA and the Public Works Department to prioritise repair work and complete it by December 10.

He also noted that the freight corridor is expected to divert 30-35 per cent of container traffic away from Ghodbunder Road. Additional relief is anticipated once the missing link between Khanivade and Amane is completed. The TMC is coordinating with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to expedite the connection, and Mhaske instructed officials to schedule a meeting with the Thane District Collector soon.

Road Handover and Upgrades

The TMC has expressed willingness to take over Ghodbunder Road and adjoining routes. However, Commissioner Rao clarified that the agencies currently responsible for the road must first complete necessary upgrades before handing over control to the corporation.

Citizen Inputs and Traffic Management

DCP (Traffic) Pankaj Shirsat encouraged residents to register complaints related to traffic violations, auto-rickshaw issues and congestion through the MahaTraffic Police app.

Local residents and members of Justice for Ghodbunder Road raised concerns about internal road conditions, water supply issues, sanitation lapses and persistent traffic bottlenecks. Former corporator Siddharth Owalekar recommended extending the coastal road from Saket-Gaimukh to the Fountain-Versova stretch, as well as developing the Owala-Mogharpada internal road to ease commuter pressure.

The meeting concluded with officials agreeing to strengthen inter-departmental coordination to resolve long-standing issues along the Ghodbunder Road corridor.