CM Eknath Shinde Inaugurates Thane Creek Bridge; Lays Foundation for 7 Creek Bridges

The northbound Thane Creek Bridge was inaugurated by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday morning, October 13. The bridge is part of the Sion-Panvel Highway project and will reduce congestion for vehicles travelling between Navi Mumbai and surrounding areas.

नवी मुंबईतील वाशी येथील सायन - पनवेल महामार्गावरील ठाणे खाडी पूल क्र. ३ च्या मुंबई-पुणे उत्तरवाहिनी मार्गिकेचे लोकार्पण आज संपन्न झाले.

वाशी येथे ५५९ कोटी रुपये खर्च करून बांधण्यात येणाऱ्या या मार्गावर प्रत्येकी ३ मार्गिकेचे २ पूल बांधण्यात येणार असून त्यात मुंबईहून पुण्याकडे… pic.twitter.com/AaP8uABX6w

— Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) October 13, 2024

Nearly 80 per cent of the construction work on the southbound bridge is also complete. Both bridges will have three lanes. The project is being built at the cost of INR 599 crore. Once both bridges are ready, they will handle up to two lakh vehicles daily.

During the event, CM Shinde also laid the foundation stone for seven new creek bridges in the Sindhudurg district through video link. Locally, each creek bridge's groundbreaking ceremony was conducted by local officials.

These bridges will be part of the Revas-Redi Sea Highway, which is 498 kilometers long. The Coastal Highway will link Mumbai to the Maharashtra-Goa border. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is overseeing the projects.

The seven creek bridges will be located at Dharmatar, Kundalika, Agardanda, Bankot, Kelsi, Jaigad, and Kunkeshwar. Together, these bridges will cover a length of 26.7 kilometers. The total approved budget for these bridges is INR 7,851 crore. 

याप्रसंगी सिंधुदुर्ग जिल्ह्यातील तसेच ४९८ किलोमीटर लांबीच्या रेवस - रेडी सागरी महामार्गावरील ७ खाडीपुलांच्या कामांचे भुमिपूजन देखील दूरदृश्यप्रणालीद्वारे करण्यात आले. https://t.co/spxy482LMt pic.twitter.com/avBTMxxZtn

— Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) October 13, 2024

The creeks currently require either Ro-Ro ferry services or long diversions. Once completed, the bridges will reduce travel times in the region.

The MSRDC will upgrade the existing 523-kilometre-long Revas-Redi coastal road. The upgraded road will have four lanes and connect the Konkan districts of Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. The creek bridges are an important part of this project.

People in the Konkan region have long demanded bridges along the Coastal Highway. The seven new creek bridges will address this long-standing need. Chief Minister Shinde said that Konkan residents could consider these bridges as a Diwali gift. He also mentioned that the bridges would improve local tourism and overall development in the region.

The Agardanda Creek bridge in the Dighi Agardanda area is one of the largest projects. It will be 4.31 kilometers long and have a cable-stay design. The project has a budget of INR 1,315 crore and will be completed in three years. 

Another major project is the Bankot Creek bridge in the Bagmandla area. This bridge will be 1.711 kilometres long and built at a cost of INR 408 crore. It will also take three years to complete. The bridge over Kelshi Bay will be 670 meters long and cost INR 148 crore. The MSRDC expects it to be completed within three years. 

Additionally, a four-kilometre-long bridge will span Jaigad Creek. This project has a budget of INR 930 crore and will be finished in three years. A bridge will also be built near Kunkeshwar. It will be 1,580 meters long and cost INR 257 crore. This bridge is expected to be ready within three years.