Navi Mumbai’s Rabale area will face significant traffic disruptions from May 3 to June 1, 2025, as the Navi Mumbai Police enforce a 24/7 vehicle ban on the road from Jama Masjid, Sector 17, to Shriram Vidyalaya.
The closure, announced on May 2, 2025, facilitates segment launching work on the Mulund-Airoli Creek Bridge near the NMMC Garden in Sector 4, Airoli, led by J Kumar Infra Projects Ltd. Aimed at enhancing connectivity, this project will impact daily commuters but promises long-term gains for the city’s 1.2 million residents.For office-goers, students, and families in Airoli and Rabale, the restrictions mean rethinking daily routes. The 1.03-km Mulund-Airoli Bridge, a vital link handling 50,000 vehicles daily, is undergoing upgrades to bolster the Airoli-Katai Naka Freeway, cutting travel time to Kalyan by 30 minutes. During the closure, vehicles from Patni Road to Sector 3 will divert right at Jama Masjid via the Sector 17 Datta Mandir road, while those from Bharat Bijli to Shriram Vidyalaya will turn left onto Airoli Sector 5 road. Only J Kumar Infra’s vehicles are exempt, ensuring uninterrupted construction.
The human toll is significant. A delivery worker in Sector 4, reliant on the bridge to reach Mulund, now faces longer commutes, while parents near Shriram Vidyalaya must navigate detours for school drop-offs. The police, led by DCP (Traffic) Tirupati Kakade, urge cooperation, citing safety under Motor Vehicles Act Sections 115 and 117. Alternate routes, used during similar closures from March 14 to April 13, 2025, aim to ease congestion, but peak-hour delays on Thane-Belapur Road are likely, with 20% traffic volume increases reported in past diversions. This project aligns with Navi Mumbai’s sustainable mobility goals. The upgraded bridge, part of a Rs 540 crore Airoli-Ghansoli corridor, will reduce emissions by easing traffic flow and support access to the Navi Mumbai International Airport by 2026. Despite short-term inconvenience, the initiative mirrors successful upgrades like the Palm Beach Road extension, which cut travel times by 15%. For residents like Anita, a Rabale shopkeeper, the promise of smoother roads fuels hope, even as she braces for a month of detours.
Motorists are advised to check the Navi Mumbai Police website or NTES app for real-time updates and plan early departures. As Rabale adapts, this infrastructure push is a step toward a connected, greener Navi Mumbai, where every journey fuels progress.
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Navi Mumbai Road Closures for Creek Bridge Work
