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Commuters in Mumbai’s metropolitan region can now look forward to a smoother and faster commute between Thane and Dombivli.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) is set to complete an ambitious project that will reduce travel time between these two destinations from an hour to just 20 minutes.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) has undertaken the construction of the Motagaon-Mankoli creek bridge, which is 84 percent complete, to provide commuters with a faster and more efficient mode of transportation.
This six-tier Mankoli Bridge and a causeway across Ulhas Bay will allow passengers to travel from Thane to Dombivli in just 20 minutes, reducing travel time by at least an hour.
Construction on the bridge and road link began in February 2017 and has been progressing steadily ever since, despite delays caused by land acquisition issues at Mankoli.
According to MMRDA officials, the Motagaon-Mankoli creek bridge, which is a key component of the project, is 84 percent complete.
The remaining work will be completed by April 2023, and the bridge and road will be put into traffic service by May 2023.
Dombivli, a bustling suburb located in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, is home to many people who commute to and from Mumbai, Nashik, and Ahmedabad.
However, reaching these destinations can be a challenge, given the heavy traffic on the roads.
At present, there are only two routes to reach Thane or Mumbai. The first option will be to travel via Shilphata, and the second is to travel via the Kalyan-Bhiwandi bypass. Both routes face heavy traffic jams and must pass through Kalyan or Shilphata.
The project will reduce the distance by around 27 km by connecting Dombivli to Bhiwandi, leading to Thane, Mumbai, and NH 3.
To address this problem, the MMRDA decided to construct a six-tier Mankoli Bridge and a causeway across Ulhas Bay.
The Mankoli-Motagaon link road is 1.3 km long, and the MMRDA has been working on this project for the past few years.
The Metropolitan Commissioner, S. V. R. Srinivas, inspected the project on Tuesday and reviewed the work.
During his visit, he instructed the team to expedite the work of the service road at Thane and Nasik’s side to begin immediately after shifting of the TMC water pipeline.
With 84 percent of the work on the six-lane Motagaon (Dombivli) – Mankoli (Bhiwandi) bridge completed, the MMRDA is pushing to finish the project by May 2023 and open the bridge for vehicular traffic.
The work on the bridge began in February 2017 and was scheduled to be ready in two years’ time.
However, land acquisition hurdles at Mankoli caused the delay in the project.
The work has got a push in the last two years and should be completed in over six months, according to officials.
The bridge will reduce the distance by around 27 km by connecting Dombivli to Bhiwandi, leading to Thane, Mumbai, and NH 3.
This will save at least one hour of travel time for Dombivli residents traveling towards Mumbai, Nashik and Ahmedabad.
With the new bridge, vehicles from Dombivli will be diverted to this bridge and thus reducing the vehicular movement on the two regular routes.
Current routes are long-distance travel for most of the people in Dombivli, for which they have been demanding an alternative.
Currently, there are two routes that one can take to get to Mumbai.
The first route is from Dombivli – Shilphata – Mumbra- Thane – Mulund – NH3 – Mumbai Fort.
The second route is the Dombivli – Kalyan (Shivaji Chowk)- Bhiwandi bypass – NH3 – Mumbai Fort.
With the new bridge, vehicles from Dombivli will be diverted to this bridge, thus reducing vehicular movement on the two regular routes.
The bridge will connect Dombivli to Bhiwandi, leading to Thane, Mumbai, and NH 3. Commuters will be able to travel from Thane to Dombivali in just 20 minutes, providing a much-needed alternative to the current routes.
Once completed, the new bridge will save at least one hour of travel time for Dombivli residents travelling towards Mumbai, Nashik, and Ahmedabad.
Commuters will be able to connect to their workplace in just 15 minutes, providing much-needed relief from the long and arduous commute.
The new bridge will ensure a safe and smooth ride, free of the potholes that currently plague the roads.
The completion of this project will bring immense relief to thousands of daily commuters, making their daily travel smoother, faster, and more comfortable.
It will also provide a major boost to the region’s infrastructure and connectivity, opening up new avenues for growth and development.
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