Stalled Thane-Belapur flyover revived, but gridlock persists

Navi Mumbai: Work on the long-stalled Turbhe flyover near Turbhe Railway Station on the busy Thane-Belapur Road has finally resumed, with officials confirming progress on key pending components. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has restarted construction after resolving major technical hurdles, including the diversion of a wastewater pipeline and initiation of pier foundation work at the Thane end.Despite the restart, the slow pace of work has raised concerns among commuters, who continue to face severe traffic congestion on the stretch. "One has to negotiate the 500-meter patch for 10-15 minutes at any given time of the day, thanks to the authority for testing the patience of motorists," said Santosh Sahu, a motorist.The Rs 32 crore project, aimed at easing bottlenecks and reducing accidents, had remained stalled for nearly two years after preliminary work worth over Rs 4 crore was rendered ineffective due to a faulty design. The civic body later sought expert input, with IIT Bombay approving a revised plan that enabled construction to restart.Officials said a key obstacle was a sewage pipeline linked to the MIDC's Common Effluent Treatment Plant, located beneath the road where central piers were planned. Its diversion has now cleared the way for further work.Municipal Commissioner Kailas Shinde confirmed that cost escalation will not be entertained despite delays, while traffic permissions are being extended to facilitate ongoing construction.Originally scheduled for completion by early 2025, the project deadline has now been pushed to March 2027. Once completed, the 560-metre, four-lane flyover is expected to significantly ease traffic and improve safety near Turbhe Store area. "The flyover is the need of the hour as traffic bottleneck has become a nightmare for motorists. It is the only option to decongest Thane-Belapur road and avert road mishaps," said Kalwa resident Jaywant Jadhav.