The 12.71-kilometre corridor is being developed as a continuous high-speed route linking Airoli, Mumbra, and Katai Naka. According to MMRDA, the project is expected to significantly reduce travel distance, ease severe traffic congestion on existing road networks, and streamline the movement of commuters as well as freight traffic across the region.
The project is being executed in three phases. The authority confirmed that Phase II has been fully completed, Phase I is in its final stages of completion, and Phase III remains under construction.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the corridor as a strategic infrastructure investment for the state’s future. He stated that both Phase I and Phase II are nearing completion and are expected to be commissioned within the year. He added that the project will strengthen connectivity between major growth centres, accelerate economic activity, improve logistics efficiency, and enhance the quality of life for citizens. Fadnavis emphasised that under the vision of “Mumbai 3.0,” such projects will decongest core urban areas and enable balanced, sustainable development across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
According to MMRDA, once fully operational, the corridor is projected to reduce travel time by 30 to 45 minutes and shorten the distance between Mulund and Katai Naka by approximately 7 to 8 kilometres.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and MMRDA Chairman Eknath Shinde stated that the project will significantly improve east-west connectivity and ease congestion across heavily trafficked routes in Thane and Navi Mumbai. He noted that commuters are expected to save substantial travel time daily.
Shinde further highlighted that the high-speed corridor, including its tunnel link, will ensure faster and seamless travel between Thane and Navi Mumbai. He added that the project will not only reduce travel time by 35 to 40 minutes but also deliver a critical benefit—time savings for citizens to spend with their families, thereby improving overall quality of life.
Phase I of the project extends from Thane–Belapur Road to National Highway 4 and includes a 1.69-kilometre twin tunnel and a 0.94-kilometre elevated road. The tunnel design incorporates three traffic lanes and one refuge lane in each tube. MMRDA confirmed that civil works for the tunnel are 92 percent complete.
The project utilises the New Austrian Tunnelling Method, which the authority stated is suitable for complex geological conditions. Advanced safety and operational systems, including ventilation, firefighting infrastructure, high-pressure water mist systems, intelligent lighting, and variable message signage, are being installed.
The corridor will provide a direct connection between Airoli and National Highway 4 at Mumbra, bypassing congestion-prone junctions including Mahape, Shil Phata, and Kalyan Phata.
Phase II, comprising a 2.57-kilometre elevated road linking Airoli to Thane–Belapur Road, has been fully completed and will be opened in conjunction with Phase I to ensure uninterrupted connectivity.
Phase III extends from National Highway 4 to Katai Naka along the Kalyan–Shil Road corridor. The 6.71-kilometre fully elevated stretch, including service roads and multiple entry and exit ramps, is currently around 10 percent complete. MMRDA has set an October 2028 completion target for this phase.
Metropolitan Commissioner Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee stated that the authority is adopting a phased commissioning strategy to ensure early public access to completed sections. He emphasised that the corridor will transform mobility across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, enabling faster movement for both commuters and goods. He further noted that once fully completed, the project will redefine urban travel efficiency under the concept of “Mumbai in Minutes,” significantly easing congestion at critical bottlenecks such as Shil Phata, which experiences round-the-clock traffic pressure.
The Airoli–Katai Naka Corridor is expected to emerge as a critical infrastructure backbone, reshaping mobility patterns and strengthening economic integration across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
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