A key construction milestone has been reached on the Gaimukh-Payegaon Creek Bridge project in Thane, with piling work along the creek section crossing 95 per cent, according to an official project update issued on Sunday. Overall work on the 65-km project is around 25 per cent complete.
The bridge is being developed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to create a new road connection between Gaimukh on Ghodbunder Road and Chinchoti and Payegaon. The route is expected to improve links between Thane, Bhiwandi, Vasai and other parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The latest update said pier erection and pier-cap construction are also progressing. Work is continuing at both ends of the project, including the Gaimukh and Paye-Payegaon sides, while foundation and structural work advances across the creek section.
The proposed bridge is intended to provide a more direct route towards Bhiwandi, Vasai and northern parts of the MMR. At present, traffic travelling from Thane towards Chinchoti, Payegaon and Vasai negotiates the ghat section near Ghodbunder. The corridor also carries heavy vehicles, contributing to traffic pressure along the route, according to the project update.
Once completed, the bridge is expected to bypass the existing ghat section and provide an alternative route for commuter and freight traffic. Ghodbunder Road currently handles movement between Thane, Mumbai’s western suburbs, Mira-Bhayandar and the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway.
MMRDA has described the project as part of a wider effort to strengthen Thane’s road, metro and tunnel connectivity. The bridge is also planned to connect with or support access to several major transport projects, including the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor, the Thane Coastal Road, the Virar-Alibaug Multimodal Corridor, the Diva-Vasai railway line, National Highway 48 and the Anjur-Chinchoti Road.
The project update said the Gaimukh-Payegaon Creek Bridge would form part of MMRDA’s broader multimodal transport network. Its stated objectives include improving regional mobility, supporting freight movement and strengthening connections between important economic centres in the metropolitan region.
The latest construction milestone comes as piling and pier-related work continues at the bridge approaches and across the creek. The next stages will involve further structural construction and progress on the approach sections at Gaimukh and Paye-Payegaon, according to the official update.
