600cr Ghodbunder highway widening project in Thane faces strong local opposition

Mumbai: The ambitious Rs 600-crore Ghodbunder Highway widening project has sparked sharp criticism from local residents and BJP MLA Sanjay Kelkar, who warn it could endanger thousands living along the arterial road by pushing heavy traffic dangerously close to their housing societies and stripping locals of safe access routes.Kelkar, after addressing a delegation of residents and officials from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) last week, said citizens fear the plan to merge existing service lanes with the main carriageway will expose pedestrians and local vehicles to speeding highway traffic, increasing accident risks. The service lanes currently provide safe passage for residents, schoolchildren, shoppers, and visitors to numerous commercial establishments along the highway.The highway, a vital link connecting Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Gujarat, North Maharashtra, and JNPT, is a pet project of Eknath Shinde, who during his tenure as chief minister had approved the expansion between Gaimukh and Kapurbawdi to create eight lanes. However, locals allege the decision was taken unilaterally, without public consultation.Kelkar dismissed official claims that present congestion justifies the widening, attributing it to the ongoing Metro 4 construction barricades. He warned the widening project would force locals to take longer detours, wasting fuel and time, and potentially increasing congestion on the highway."The project has already led to loss of thousands of trees. If residents suffer, it's unacceptable. I will speak to the Chief Minister and seek his intervention," Kelkar said.It may be recalled that the Thane Shiv Sena UBT had also voiced opposition recently writing to the MMRDA, highlighting growing local unrest over the project.