Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway repair work has begun on the damaged stretch between the Versova bridge and Virar Phata after the National Highways Authority took up repairs to sunken concrete panels, potholes and cracked sections of the road, according to a report by Loksatta.
The work follows complaints about the poor condition of the highway in the Vasai area. Loksatta reported that the authority initiated repairs after its report highlighted the deteriorating road surface and the increased risk faced by motorists travelling through the stretch.
The affected section runs through Vasai East and forms part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway. The route connects Mumbai, Thane, Vasai-Virar, Mira-Bhayandar, Palghar and Gujarat, making it an important corridor for industrial, commercial and daily commuter traffic.
The highway had undergone concrete paving on both the Mumbai-bound and Gujarat-bound carriageways around two years ago. The work was carried out at an estimated cost of about Rs 600 crore after recurring potholes had affected the road. However, the report said that major cracks and subsidence had appeared at several locations within a relatively short period after the concrete work.
In some areas, the concrete surface has reportedly sunk considerably, while large cracks have developed in other sections. A thin asphalt layer applied over the concrete was also reported to have peeled away within days of rainfall. The damage had left motorists travelling over uneven and broken surfaces, with complaints increasing over the safety risks on the route.
The repair operation is focused on damaged panels along the Versova bridge–Virar Phata stretch. The supplied report does not specify the total length of the repairs, the number of panels being replaced, the completion deadline or whether traffic restrictions will be imposed during the work.
The condition of the highway is significant for more than local traffic because the corridor serves residential areas in the Vasai-Virar region as well as industrial and commercial activity extending towards Palghar and Gujarat. Any deterioration on the route can affect private vehicles, buses, goods carriers and other road users travelling between the Mumbai region and Gujarat.
The highway authority’s immediate action addresses the damaged sections identified in the report. Further details on the repair schedule, quality controls and the long-term treatment of the concrete surface were not provided in the source report.
