Big relief for commuters soon: Mumbai-Nashik Highway widening work nears completion

Mumbai: Commuters facing long traffic jams on Mumbai-Nashik Highway between Thane and Vadpe can expect some relief soon as the road-widening work is nearing completion. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) officials said that over 75 percent of the work has already been completed, and the remaining portion is being fast-tracked to meet deadlines.

An MSRDC spokesperson said, "About 75 percent work of increasing lanes to eight on the Thane-Vadpe road has been completed. The entire project is expected to be finished by March 2026, which will reduce traffic congestion and ease travel for people heading towards Samruddhi Highway near Amane."

At present, commuters travelling from Thane towards Samruddhi Mahamarg’s starting point near Amane are forced to take the old Mumbai-Nashik Highway. Due to ongoing work, traffic jams have become common during peak hours. Commuters spend 90 to 120 minutes to cover 23 kms between Thane and Vadpe. Once completed, the expanded highway is expected to reduce congestion, improve traffic flow, and cut travel time to just 30 to 40 minutes.

Shared his frustration, a regular commuter using the stretch said, "The ongoing construction makes it difficult to travel during peak hours. It often takes over 90 minutes to cover just 23 km. Now, I prefer taking the long-distance train from Nashik to Mumbai instead. We’re all hoping the work will finish soon so we can use the Samruddhi Highway to Amane and then continue on the old highway to Thane.”

Another commuter said, "For over two years, the road-widening work between Thane and Bhiwandi has caused severe traffic jams. Sometimes, it takes up to two hours to travel a stretch that should only take 45 minutes. We really hope the authorities speed up the project without compromising on quality.”