While the newly inaugurated Atal Setu has improved connectivity between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has proposed a dedicated 26-km elevated corridor to provide direct access from Thane to the airport. A detailed project report is currently being prepared, and a financial consultant has been identified for the initiative.

Set to be inaugurated in June, NMIA is driving major infrastructure developments to enhance connectivity with Mumbai and Thane. Currently, commuters rely on the heavily congested Thane-Belapur Road and Palm Beach Road for airport access. The proposed corridor aims to offer a seamless and faster route, reducing travel time significantly.

The new road will originate from Patni Chowk in Thane and run parallel to Thane-Belapur Road for 17 km before reaching Vashi. The remaining 9 km from Vashi to NMIA will be a double-decker elevated road. While the initial stretch has minimal environmental obstacles, the latter phase passes through ecologically sensitive mangrove areas and coastal regulation zones, requiring multiple environmental clearances before construction can commence.

The estimated cost of the corridor stands at ?8,000 crore, with factors like land acquisition and approvals influencing the project timeline. In addition to this elevated corridor, CIDCO has outlined several other road and bridge projects to enhance NMIA’s connectivity.

A significant milestone in this effort was achieved on March 25, when the forest department approved the transfer of 4,859 square meters of forest land near Ulwe and Sonkhar creeks. This clearance paves the way for a new bridge by replacing an existing bund over the Ulwe River, further strengthening access to NMIA.