Mumbai: The progress of the Airoli-Katai Naka Freeway and land acquisition for major infrastructure projects were among the key issues discussed during a meeting between the Janrajya and Kalyanphata Traffic Action Committee (JKTAC) and Thane district collector Dr Shrikrishna Panchal on Monday.
Residents Submit 1,000 Signatures
The meeting, held on August 31, was convened to discuss the long-pending traffic congestion at Kalyanphata and seven demands raised by the committee through a citizen signature campaign. JKTAC submitted letters carrying signatures of more than 1,000 residents from Dombivli, Kalyanphata, Shilphata and surrounding areas.
During the meeting, the collector referred to the Airoli-Katai Naka Freeway, saying the project had been a major point of discussion among public representatives and concerned authorities in recent months, with emphasis on completing it at the earliest.
Land Acquisition Process Underway
The committee also raised the status of land acquisition for Phase 3 of the Airoli-Katai Naka project, the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway and the Virar-Alibaug corridor. According to the information shared during the meeting, these projects have been fast-tracked following budgetary provisions for land acquisition.
Of the 430 hectares required in Thane district, around 175 hectares is yet to be acquired, with the process currently underway.
Seven Demands Require Coordination
The committee told the collector that the projects forming part of its seven demands had already been sanctioned or approved and therefore required effective coordination between agencies, timely execution and administrative intervention rather than further approvals.
Completion of the Kalyanphata flyover was among the key demands raised by the committee. JKTAC said the flyover could substantially ease congestion at the junction if completed within the stipulated timeline. The committee also sought completion of the flyover opposite Xperia Mall, expansion of the Panvel-bound carriageway to remove the bottleneck at Kalyanphata and immediate commencement of the Kalyanphata traffic signal.
Collector Assures Action
The collector acknowledged that the administration was aware of the recurring traffic congestion at Kalyanphata. He assured the committee that he would bring the concerned departments and agencies onto a common platform, review the status of the projects and follow up on pending works.
JKTAC also suggested that the administration explore encouraging IT and corporate companies in the region to adopt hybrid or work-from-home arrangements wherever feasible. The committee said such a move could reduce peak-hour traffic on the Kalyanphata corridor. The collector said he would examine the feasibility of the proposal.
The committee said it would continue to follow up with the authorities on the seven demands until concrete action is taken to ease traffic congestion in the Kalyanphata-Shilphata-Dombivli corridor.
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