Thane municipal commissioner Saurabh Rao has set a firm May 30 deadline to complete critical infrastructure works along the Ghodbunder highway, one of the city's busiest arterial routes, ahead of the upcoming monsoon season.
Joint inspection of ongoing works
Rao conducted a joint inspection of ongoing works across the Thane Municipal Corporation area, directing all concerned agencies—including the public works department, Metro authorities, and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA)—to fast-track pending projects within their ambit and ensure smooth traffic flow for local motorists. The Ghodbunder highway remains a crucial east-west connector and the fastest route for many commuters, especially for residents staying beyond Kapurbawdi to access Thane railway station and the old city. However, motorists frequently face severe congestion on this stretch, particularly during the monsoon, due to waterlogging, ongoing works, and narrowed lanes.
Specific instructions and focus areas
Officials said the inspection, carried out on Thursday, also covered the Eastern Express Highway, Kapurbawdi Junction, service roads, and the Gaimukh Ghat stretch, where officials were instructed to urgently concrete the road shoulders opposite Gaimukh Chowpatty. Emphasis was on concreting slip roads and those under metro pillars, service road merging, paver block installation, junction improvements, shifting of electric poles, and pipeline relocation, among other tasks, according to an official quoting Rao. The administration has been instructed to plan traffic infrastructure such as road islands, bus bays, and rickshaw stands, along with installing parking and no-parking signboards, especially along the Ghodbunder stretch.
These measures are expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion and waterlogging issues during the monsoon, providing relief to thousands of daily commuters who rely on this vital route.
