Navi Mumbai’s long-planned coastal road project is expected to break ground in the early months of 2026, following the recent approval of key forest-related permissions. The corridor, positioned as a crucial connector for the upcoming international airport at Ulwe, is designed to ease travel across the satellite city while shaping future growth in Kharghar and adjoining nodes. The project also reinforces Navi Mumbai’s shift towards integrated urban mobility and low-carbon connectivity.
Planning agency CIDCO has outlined a 9.68-kilometre corridor, with a uniform width of 30 metres, linking the airport precinct with Belapur, Nerul and Kharghar. Officials explained that the route will complement the broader mobility network being built around the airport, reducing commuter travel time and creating more predictable traffic flows for residents and workers. Industry experts noted that such corridors, when designed with multimodal integration, can eventually support greener transit choices and reduce dependence on private vehicles. A major functional advantage of the coastal road is its direct connection to the emerging International Corporate Park in Kharghar, envisioned as a commercial district with scale comparable to Mumbai’s business hubs. The alignment will also offer seamless access to the area’s golf course and its Centre of Excellence venue, which hosts international-standard training and sporting facilities. Urban planners believe these connectors will enhance land value, expand employment opportunities and encourage a balanced mix of residential and commercial development in surrounding neighbourhoods.
To keep traffic moving efficiently, CIDCO has included a grade-separated structure along the Sion–Panvel Expressway. The structure is intended to eliminate bottlenecks and give airport-bound vehicles priority movement, especially during peak hours. Officials emphasised that smooth traffic flow on this stretch will be essential once passenger operations at the new airport scale up. Nearly 6.96 kilometres of the proposed corridor will be developed as entirely new roadway, while the remaining section will tie into the city’s existing road grid. The project is also expected to support linkages to upcoming public-oriented infrastructure, including the planned water transport terminal and affordable housing zones being developed under national housing schemes.
Construction responsibilities have been awarded to the J Kumar – J M Mhatre joint venture. Representatives associated with the project stated that the corridor is intended not only to strengthen Kharghar’s real estate potential but also to improve connectivity to Taloja and Navde, which are emerging as industrial and logistics nodes. The full stretch is expected to be completed by 2029, subject to timely execution and favourable clearances. For Navi Mumbai, the coastal road is expected to become a structural spine for future development, tying together airport access, business districts and residential clusters. As the city continues to grow, planners argue that well-designed corridors can support sustainable mobility, distribute economic activity more evenly and enable a more inclusive urban expansion model.
Kharghar Coastal Road Project To Begin In 2026 After Mandatory Approvals Clear
