A massive traffic snarl was witnessed on the Mumbra Kharegaon and Thane-Ghodbunder Road on Friday, caused by ongoing repair work at Gaimukh Ghat. Motorists faced severe hardship commuting along this stretch,
with many reporting delays of over an hour to cover distances that usually take just 10–20 minutes.
The congestion was reported on the Mumbra-Kharegaon road compounding the traffic woes. Commuters expressed frustration, citing that traffic during the ongoing work from Kajupada to Nira Kendra, involving road patches measuring 300 to 400 meters. Long queues of vehicles were seen from the Kharegaon toll plaza to Kausa.
A police official said that heavy vehicles traveling from Navi Mumbai, Mahape, and Dombivli toward Thane and Ghodbunder Road were significantly delayed. There are concerns that the jam may intensify further.
Notably, thousands of heavy vehicles travel daily from JNPT Port, Navi Mumbai, through the Gaimukh Ghat area toward Gujarat. The repair work at Gaimukh Ghat led to increased traffic on the Mumbra bypass, prompting authorities to divert heavy vehicles via the Mumbai–Nashik Highway through Kharegaon toll naka. However, ongoing road-widening work along this alternate route further worsened the congestion.
In Thane, several infrastructure and road projects are underway, contributing to the overall traffic distress.
Traffic Diversions and Restrictions
The Highway Authority has announced urgent three-day repair work on the Ghodbunder Road, leading to a diversion of heavy vehicles traveling to and from Gujarat, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and the Konkan region. Vehicles will be rerouted via:
Diversion Route:
Kapurbawdi → Kasheli → Majiwada → Kharegaon → Mankoli → Anjur Phata
Thane Traffic Police issued a notification restricting the movement of heavy vehicles on the Gaimukh Ghat section from midnight on August 8 until 5:00 a.m. on August 11, to facilitate asphalt and bitumen roadwork on the Kajupada to Nira Kendra road, which includes patches of 300 to 400 meters.
Specific Traffic Control Measures
From Mumbai/Thane to Ghodbunder Road:
Heavy vehicles will be blocked at V Junction and Kapurbawdi Junction.
Alternative Route: Via V Junction to Nashik Road through Kharegaon Toll → Mankoli → Anjur Phata
From Mumbra/Kalwa to Ghodbunder Road:
Heavy vehicles will be stopped at Kharegaon Toll Naka.
Alternative Route: Kharegaon Toll → Mankoli → Anjur Phata
