Vaitarna-Vadhiv Bridge Proposal Seeks Rs 26 Crore for Safer Access
A Rs 25.95-crore proposal for an approximately 700-metre bridge between Vaitarna and Vadhiv near Virar has been submitted to the Maharashtra government after residents and school students highlighted the lack of a safe transport connection in the area.
Vasai | September 4, 2026
The proposal was prepared by the Palghar district administration after a technical inspection of the area, where residents and schoolchildren have reportedly been using a railway bridge and crossing railway tracks to travel between Vadhiv and Vaitarna. The administration has sent the plan to the state government for the required administrative and financial approvals.
The Vaitarna-Vadhiv area, located along the Western Railway route between Virar and Dahanu, has a substantial residential population but has lacked a road or other appropriate transport facility for several years, according to the report. Schoolchildren from Vadhiv travel to schools in Vaitarna, making the absence of a regular connection a daily safety and access concern.
The issue gained wider attention after students recorded and circulated a video describing the difficulties faced by residents. Palghar MP Dr Hemant Savara subsequently inspected the location. During the visit, local residents asked for a bridge and a jetty to improve access between the two areas. Local media reports, including earlier coverage by Loksatta on September 1, also brought the issue to the administration’s attention.
District Collector Dr Indurani Jakhad said the administration had completed a technical examination and prepared the bridge proposal. The preliminary estimated cost is Rs 25.95 crore, and the proposed structure would be about 700 metres long. The district administration is coordinating with the relevant authorities and pursuing the approvals required from the state government, according to the report.
Residents have also sought a jetty between Vadhiv and Vaitarna. Savara has raised the demand with Maharashtra Fisheries and Ports Minister Nitesh Rane, citing the need for safer movement and quicker access during emergencies. The demand is particularly linked to delays in taking patients to hospitals, as the absence of a road connection can restrict the movement of ambulances and other vehicles.
The proposed jetty is intended to support the movement of ambulances, larger vehicles, two-wheelers, cars and other residents, subject to the completion of the required technical and administrative procedures. The district administration’s bridge proposal now awaits consideration by the state government and the necessary administrative and financial clearances.
