Mumbai: The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is set to bring relief to commuters traveling from Mumbai to Pune as it prepares to open the southbound section of the Thane Creek Bridge-3.
This new section, which is designed to reduce congestion on the existing Thane Creek Bridge-2, is scheduled to be operational by the end of September or the first week of October 2024.
Once open, the new southbound lane will offer an alternative route for drivers heading towards Pune, reducing traffic snarls and speeding up the journey.
The project, originally started in 2020, faced delays due to technical issues but has now gained momentum with the completion of the southbound section.
"In the next 15 days, the southbound lane from Mumbai to Pune will be opened for traffic," stated MSRDC officials. The corporation is currently working to schedule an inauguration by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Currently, two bridges serve the Mumbai-Pune route. However, with increasing traffic demands, the MSRDC embarked on the construction of Thane Creek Bridge-3 to provide additional capacity.
This new bridge will significantly ease the travel experience between the two cities by alleviating the heavy load on Thane Creek Bridge-2, particularly for commuters traveling southwards.
Awaiting the Northbound Section
While the southbound section is ready, those traveling from Pune to Mumbai will have to wait a little longer for the full benefits of the new bridge.
The northbound section (Pune to Mumbai) is still under construction, with approximately 75% of the work completed. The remaining work is expected to be finished by December 2024, with the section opening to traffic by January 2025. This delay means that Pune to Mumbai commuters will need to endure the existing traffic conditions for a few more months.
Project Overview
The Thane Creek Bridge-3 project was initiated in 2015 to alleviate the traffic burden on Thane Creek Bridge-2.
Approved by the state government on November 24, 2017, construction began in 2020.
The total estimated cost for the project is ₹559 crore (original budget: ₹775.57 crore).
The bridge spans 1.837 km, with a 3.80 km approach road from Mumbai and a 9.30 km approach road from Navi Mumbai, featuring six lanes in total.
Once fully operational, Thane Creek Bridge-3 will serve as a vital link for the increasing volume of traffic between Mumbai and Pune, improving the efficiency of travel on this crucial route.