Eknath Shinde Launches Rs 200-Crore Traffic Improvement Project At Teen Hath Naka
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday announced the foundation stone laying for the Rs 200-crore Teen Hath Naka Traffic Improvement Project at Teen Hath Naka in Thane. The infrastructure initiative is aimed at easing severe congestion at the busy junction and improving connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
According to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the project features a 2.76-kilometre dedicated elevated corridor designed to make major traffic movements at Teen Hath Naka signal-free while significantly reducing travel times for daily commuters.
A key component of the infrastructure project is a 1.9-kilometre U-shaped flyover. The flyover will begin from Hariniwas on LBS Road, turn left onto the Eastern Express Highway, run parallel to the existing Teen Hath Naka flyover towards Anand Nagar, take a U-turn, and reconnect towards the junction before branching left towards Modella Junction.
The project also includes a 120-metre connector linking the new corridor to the Mumbai-bound lane of the existing flyover. Additionally, a 720-metre elevated link will connect the new infrastructure to the upcoming elevated approach for the new Thane railway station.
Once completed, four of the seven major traffic movements at Teen Hath Naka will become completely signal-free. The junction serves as a critical intersection for vehicular traffic travelling between Mumbai, Thane, Ghodbunder Road, Gujarat, Nashik, and the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway.
Teen Hath Naka has long been identified as a major traffic bottleneck. During a review conducted under the tenure of former Thane Municipal Commissioner Aseem Gupta, the junction was found to be among the most congested in Asia, with commuters routinely waiting up to 15 minutes at traffic signals during peak hours. Authorities evaluated several improvement options, including a grade separator, before selecting the current design.
Speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony, Shinde noted that the project was conceptualised and approved during his tenure as Chief Minister before entering the execution phase. He stated that construction is expected to finish within 18 months after work begins. Shinde directed MMRDA officials and contractors to deliver the project on schedule without delays, highlighting that it will lower travel times and fuel consumption.
