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Airoli-Katai Naka Road Project to Ease Mumbai Metropolitan Region Traffic Congestion
India, the world’s most populous nation with approximately 1.46 billion residents, is grappling with increasing traffic congestion as vehicle numbers rise. To address this growing issue and enhance transportation infrastructure, the ambitious Airoli-Katai Naka Road Project has been initiated. This transformative infrastructure endeavor in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region involves the construction of a freeway and a tunnel, poised to significantly reduce travel times and improve commuter experience between the key urban centers of Navi Mumbai and Kalyan.
Project Scope and Location
The Airoli-Katai Naka Road Project aims to substantially improve connectivity between Airoli in Navi Mumbai and Katai Naka in Kalyan. Navi Mumbai, also known as New Mumbai, is a planned urban area adjacent to Mumbai, located in the Konkan division of Maharashtra. It accommodates over 1.6 million residents.
Kalyan, a historic city within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, ranks as the seventh largest city in Maharashtra and 29th in India. Combined with Dombivli, its neighboring township, it houses over 1.2 million individuals.
Spanning 7.6 miles, the Airoli-Katai Naka Road Project commences at the Airoli end of the Mulund-Airoli Bridge, traverses Thane Belapur Road and National Highway 4 (NH-4), before connecting to Kalyan-Shilpata Road at Katai Naka and merging with Katai Naka-Badlapur Road.
The project, implemented under the Extended Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project (MUIP), is segmented into three distinct phases.
Phase One: Elevated Road and Twin Tunnel Construction
Phase One encompasses the development of an elevated road and a twin tunnel stretching 2.1 miles. The elevated section, approximately 0.6 miles in length, features a 3×3 lane configuration and has been completed. The twin tunnel, spanning one mile with a 4×4 lane layout, is nearing completion, with approximately 90% of work finished. The revised contract value for this phase is estimated at Rs 556 crore (around £50 million).
Phase Two: Airoli Bridge to Thane Belapur Road Connectivity
Phase Two concentrates on the construction of an elevated road from the Airoli Bridge to Thane Belapur Road, incorporating a 3×3 lane configuration. This segment is designed to seamlessly integrate with the elevated road from Phase One. Currently, about 75% of the construction for this phase is accomplished. The revised contract cost for this phase is approximately Rs 395 crore (around £36 million).
Both Phase One and Phase Two are projected to become operational for traffic in October of the current year.
Phase Three: NH-4 to Katai Naka Development
Phase Three involves building an elevated road extending from NH-4 to Katai Naka. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is set to commence work on this phase imminently, with construction anticipated to last around two years. With a contract value of Rs 1981.17 crore (approximately £180 million), this phase is designed to enhance connectivity and alleviate traffic congestion within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Projected Benefits and Regional Impact
Upon completion, the Airoli-Katai Naka Road Project will reduce the distance between Mulund and Katai Naka by up to five miles and is expected to diminish travel time by 45 minutes during peak hours, significantly improving regional accessibility. Furthermore, it is anticipated to decrease fuel consumption and ease congestion on major arterial routes.
“The Airoli-Katai Naka Road Project will enhance connectivity, reduce fuel consumption, and decongest key arterial roads, aligning with our vision of urban sustainability,” stated MMRDA commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee.