Navi Mumbai: "This" Intersection Set for INR 482 Cr Makeover to Ease Traffic Congestion

The Kalamboli intersection on the Sion-Panvel highway is set to undergo a major transformation. This junction connects important state and national highways, including routes 48 and 548, and is known for its heavy traffic and persistent congestion.

To address this, a two-level interchange project has been planned. Soil testing has been started to find the foundation type and load-bearing capacity. This project is expected to cost INR 482 crore and will include five five-kilometer roadways, seven three-kilometer flyovers, and two signal-free underpasses. 

Two new underpasses will connect Panvel to Mumbra Road via Shilphata and provide access to the steel market. This will address the congestion caused by vehicles traveling to and from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan, Dombivli, Pune, Goa, Panvel, and Uran. 

The large container trucks heading to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) add to the issue, causing delays, fuel wastage, and environmental problems. The Kalamboli intersection is also important for connecting to the Navi Mumbai International Airport, scheduled to open in May. 

The junction links the JNPA, Kalamboli Steel Market, Shilphata, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the old Mumbai-Pune Highway, and the national highway to JNPA. Traffic from Uran, Thane, Dombivli, Mumbra, Goa, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and the Konkan region converges here. 

The National Highway Authority of India has designed the project, which is financed by the Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has handed over the project to MSIDC. 

In 2023, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari promised to resolve the congestion issues at this junction. Later, his government approved INR 770.49 crore for the project. The upgrade is expected to be completed within three years. In a public statement on X, Gadkari highlighted that the project spans 15.53 kilometers and will feature a two-level interchange with a directional or stack system. This design will eliminate cross-conflicts at grade and ensure signal-free traffic movement.