Mumbai: Commuters traveling from Badlapur, Ambernath, Ulhasnagar, Kalyan, and Dombivli to Mumbai and Navi Mumbai currently face a long and time-consuming route. However, this tedious journey is set to become history with the proposed access-controlled highway.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has invited tenders to prepare the project blueprint for this ambitious initiative. Once completed, this highway is expected to drastically reduce travel time and ease congestion within the cities.
The demand for this highway was first raised in 2023 by Kalyan Lok Sabha MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde. The highway will directly connect Mumbai and Navi Mumbai to the suburban towns of Kalyan and Badlapur.
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“MMRDA has already initiated preparatory work and a feasibility study on connecting these towns to Mumbai and Navi Mumbai has also been conducted. The latest step involves appointing project consultants and inviting detailed project reports,” Shinde said.
Presently, commuters from Badlapur have to take the Ambernath-Dombivli-Katai-Shilphata-Mahape route to reach Navi Mumbai or the Khoni-Taloja route. Travel to Mumbai takes around 2.5 to 3 hours, while Navi Mumbai takes 1.5 to 2 hours, significantly impacting intra-city traffic. This has made commuting increasingly difficult over the years, prompting former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to advocate for the project.
“The proposed access-controlled highway will start near the Mumbai-Vadodara National Highway in Badlapur and extend through Palegaon and East Kalyan, potentially connecting with the Hedutane route where Metro-12 is under construction. The highway will also link to the Kalyan Ring Road and the ambitious Multi-Modal Corridor at Shirdhon. Proximity to the Kalyan-Shilphata Road will further enhance connectivity,” sources said.
The highway will provide new connectivity to residents of Badlapur, Ambernath, Ulhasnagar, Kalyan, Dombivli, and 27 surrounding villages. The route’s link to the Mumbai-Vadodara National Highway will allow easier access to the Samruddhi Mahamarg. This highway aims to minimize intra-city traffic, positioning Kalyan’s neglected regions as central hubs in the metropolitan region.
Once completed, the project is expected to revolutionize commuting in the MMR, offering quicker, hassle-free travel between the suburbs and key metropolitan cities.
