Thane Collector Meets JKTAC Over Kalyanphata Traffic and Freeway Delays
Thane District Collector Dr Shrikrishna Panchal met with members of the Janrajya and Kalyanphata Traffic Action Committee (JKTAC) to address persistent traffic congestion at Kalyanphata and review the progress of major infrastructure projects, including the Airoli-Katai Naka Freeway.
During the meeting, held on August 31, the committee submitted letters carrying signatures from more than 1,000 residents across Dombivli, Kalyanphata, Shilphata, and neighbouring localities. The submission outlined seven demands aimed at clearing bottlenecks along the busy corridor.
Dr Panchal stated that the Airoli-Katai Naka Freeway has been a key priority among public representatives and concerned authorities in recent months, with an emphasis on finishing the work at the earliest. The meeting also addressed the status of land acquisition for Phase 3 of the freeway project, alongside the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway and the Virar-Alibaug corridor. Of the 430 hectares required across Thane district for these initiatives, roughly 175 hectares remain to be acquired, with the fast-tracked process currently underway.
JKTAC pointed out that the projects listed in its demands are already sanctioned and require inter-agency coordination, administrative intervention, and timely execution rather than fresh approvals. Among the primary requests are the completion of the Kalyanphata flyover, completion of the flyover opposite Xperia Mall, widening of the Panvel-bound carriageway, and the immediate operationalisation of the Kalyanphata traffic signal.
Additionally, the committee suggested that the administration look into encouraging corporate and IT offices in the region to adopt hybrid or work-from-home schedules to help curb peak-hour traffic volumes along the Kalyanphata route.
Dr Panchal acknowledged the recurring congestion and assured the delegation that he would bring relevant government departments onto a single platform to review project status and follow up on pending execution. He also agreed to examine the feasibility of the remote-work recommendation.
