Intense Traffic Congestion on Mumbra-Kharegaon and Thane-Ghodbunder Roads as a Result of Ongoing Repair Activities
In the bustling city of Thane, road repairs and infrastructure projects have been underway, contributing to a growing traffic distress. This was particularly evident in early August 2025, when extensive repair work on the Gaimukh Ghat stretch of the Thane-Ghodbunder highway caused significant congestion on Mumbra-Kharegaon and Thane-Ghodbunder Road.
The repair work, scheduled from August 8 to 11, 2025, involved closing two of the four lanes for a durable overhaul. The focus was on digging, leveling, and applying a mastic layer to an approximately 800-meter stretch at Gaimukh Ghat, a critical area prone to frequent damage and flooding during monsoons, which often caused recurring jams.
To manage the disrupted traffic flow, multiple diversion orders were issued by traffic authorities. However, these contributed to significant gridlock on arterial routes, including Mumbra-Kharegaon and the Thane-Ghodbunder Road. Commuters were advised to use peripheral roads and avoid peak hours to minimize delay, though severe delays remained a challenge.
Commuters faced severe delays, with some reporting over an hour to cover distances that usually take 10-20 minutes. Long queues of vehicles were seen from the Kharegaon toll plaza to Kausa.
In addition, heavy vehicles traveling from Mumbra/Kalwa to Ghodbunder Road were stopped at Kharegaon Toll Naka. The Highway Authority announced a three-day repair work diversion on Ghodbunder Road, rerouting heavy vehicles via Kapurbawdi, Kasheli, Majiwada, Kharegaon, Mankoli, and Anjur Phata.
Meanwhile, the Thane Traffic Police imposed a restriction on heavy vehicle movement on the Gaimukh Ghat section from August 8 midnight to August 11, 5:00 a.m.
On a positive note, the focused overhaul was expected to provide long-lasting durability for this vital link connecting Mumbai and northern Maharashtra regions. The special weekly train between Madgaon and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, launched by Indian Railways for Independence Day 2025, offered a respite for some commuters during this challenging period.
Despite the inconvenience, the repair works at Gaimukh Ghat are a necessary step towards improving the overall road quality and handling the heavy traffic that passes through this area daily, including thousands of heavy vehicles traveling from JNPT Port, Navi Mumbai, towards Gujarat.
- Given the ongoing road repairs in India, particularly the Gaimukh Ghat stretch in Thane, there's a growing need for the transportation industry to collaborate with the finance sector to invest in public-transit solutions, as the delays caused by these infrastructure projects can significantly impact the economy.
- With the prolonged congestion on primary routes like Mumbra-Kharegaon and Thane-Ghodbunder Road due to ongoing repairs, there's an opportunity for the Indian industry to explore alternative transportation methods in cities like Thane to ensure smooth movement of goods and commuters, thereby benefiting both the public and the economy.
