CIDCO invites bids for Rs 6,027-crore, 25-km elevated road from Kopri to Navi Mumbai airport

CIDCO has issued a tender worth Rs 6,027 crore for a six-lane elevated road from Kopri in Thane to Navi Mumbai International Airport, a major infrastructure project meant to speed up travel between Thane and Navi Mumbai.

The road will start at Kopri and run directly to the airport, a distance of about 25 km. Once it is ready, the trip from Thane to the airport is expected to take only 20 minutes, and people from Thane will not have to face traffic jams on the way.

At present, passengers travelling from Thane to the Navi Mumbai airport have to take the Thane-Belapur Road or the Shilphata-Taloja Road. Both routes are often heavily congested, so reaching the airport takes considerable time. The new elevated road is expected to ease this problem.

The road will be linked to six important roads and routes in the area: the Kopri-Patni Creek bridge, the Airoli-Katai Road, the Ghatkopar-Kopar Khairane Link Road, the Sion-Panvel Highway, the Palm Beach Road and the Ulwe Coastal Road. Because of these links, the benefit will go not only to people in Thane but also to those in different parts of Navi Mumbai. Those heading to the airport will have an alternative, faster route.

A speed limit of 100 km per hour will be set on the elevated road. However, not all vehicles will be allowed on it. Only passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles will be permitted, and heavy vehicles will not be able to use the road. Motorists using it will have to pay a toll. The airport trip will take less time, but the toll will have to be paid for it.

According to the CIDCO tender, interested companies can submit their bids until January 5. The bids will be opened on January 6. The construction period for the project has been set at three years, while the concession period will be 40 years.

Clear information on when actual construction will begin and exactly when the road will open to the public has not yet emerged. Residents of Thane and Navi Mumbai are now watching for CIDCO's next step.