Proposed Elevated Road in Mumbai Faces Delay Due to Land Acquisition Issues
The construction of the elevated road connecting NH-4 at Airoli to Katai Naka in Dombivli, initially set to be completed by 2028, is now likely to miss its deadline by a year. According to officials from the MMRDA, land acquisition is yet to be completed and may continue till September.
Project Overview
- Project Length: 6.7 km
- Components: 6 km viaduct, 100 m railway overbridge, 1.6 km access ramps, 6.3 km service roads
- Objective: Improve connectivity between Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Ambernath, and Badlapur
- Expected Benefits: Ease congestion, boost regional development, provide faster access to Navi Mumbai international airport
Land Acquisition Issues
The project involves land acquisition across six villages: Kausa, Donkar, Davale, Sheel, Desai, and Katai. While the joint measurement survey was completed in January and February, compensation for one of the villages has commenced, but the process for the remaining five will be taken afterwards.
According to an official from the Thane collector's office, the land acquisition process may continue till September, which could delay the project deadline by at least one year.
Next Steps
Once land is acquired, the contractor needs at least four months to commence work, which will involve geo-technical investigations, soil testing, design drawings, and utility diversions, if required. With the monsoon approaching, there is an urgent need to expedite the land acquisition process.
Background
Currently, commuters often take a longer route via Mahape to reach Shilphata before proceeding to Kalyan, Dombivli, Badlapur, and other areas. With traffic volumes increasing along this stretch, MMRDA decided to construct a direct elevated road from NH-4 to Katai (near the toll naka on Kalyan-Shil Road) to reduce travel distance and ease congestion.