Eastern Freeway Expansion: MMRDA Begins Work On 12.9-km Signal-Free Corridor From Ghatkopar To Thane

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has officially begun construction wlrk related to the expansion of the Eastern Freeway, a major infrastructure upgrade aimed at easing traffic congestion between Mumbai and Thane.

As part of the project, an elevated corridor is being constructed between Chheda Nagar in Ghatkopar and Anand Nagar in Thane. Initial groundwork, including excavation for pillars, has began, with barricades in place to ensure safe and efficient operations. Visible on highway.

Spanning 12.955 kilometers, the elevated flyover will be built directly above the existing Eastern Express highway starting from Ghatkopar. With three lanes on each side, in each direction, the project‘s estimated budget is of Rs 2,682 crore. Once completed, it is expected to provide much-needed traffic relief to one of the city's busiest stretches.

\The new corridor will offer a completely signal-free route from Mumbai to Thane, reducing travel time to just 30–35 minutes. The elevated road will connect seamlessly to the existing Eastern Freeway, providing an uninterrupted route for vehicles traveling from South Mumbai.

The Eastern Freeway, a 16.8-kilometer stretch from PD Mello Rd near CSMT to Cheddha Nagar in Ghatkopar, has been operational since 2014, offering fast transit out of South Mumbai. However, commuters often faced bottlenecks between Mankhurd and Thane. The addition of the new elevated flyover aims to eliminate these delays, allowing vehicles to travel from CSMT to Thane without encountering traffic snarls and signals.

Meanwhile the progress has been made on land acquisition for the project. Traditionally a time-consuming hurdle, land clearance was completed in record time due to the efforts of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), which completed survey.

One of the major obstacles was the presence of 1,694 slum units in the Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar area. To overcome this, the government has approved a full-scale redevelopment of the settlement, paving the way for the road’s construction through MMRDA. Infact, the authority for the first time will carry out a slum redevelopment project. 

Once complete, this transformative infrastructure project is set to enhance connectivity across the city, streamline commutes, and reduce pressure on the Eastern Express Highway, which currently serves as a key arterial route to Bhiwandi, Nashik, and Gujarat.

Project Highlights: 

Chheda Nagar in Ghatkopar to Thane Elevated Road

Length: 12.955 km

Width: 40 meters

Lanes: 3+3 

Estimated Cost: रस 2,682 crore

Construction Agency: Navayuga Engineering

Connectivity:Linked to the 16.8 km Eastern Freeway