The road-widening project between Thane and Vadpe on the Mumbai-Nashik highway is still unfinished, with cracks and potholes appearing on the newly built cement road. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has identified 500 defective panels and is working with the National Highways Authority to determine which need repairs or complete reconstruction. Traffic has surged due to Bhiwandi's growth as a warehousing hub, prompting plans to expand the highway from four to eight lanes, with completion now anticipated by February 2025.
The road-widening work between Thane and Vadpe on the Mumbai-Nashik highway remains incomplete, yet cracks and potholes have already appeared in numerous areas of the newly constructed cement road. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is currently attempting temporary repairs using tar.
MSRDC has conducted a survey of defects on this road and identified 500 panels with issues, including cracks and potholes. Following MSRDC's instructions, engineers from the National Highways Authority are now assessing how many of the cracks in these panels can be repaired and how many need to be entirely rebuilt by the contractor, Ramesh Khiste, among others.
The section engineer of MSRDC raised concerns about the potholes on the road, which were constructed prior to the completion of the road widening work, questioning the quality of work performed by the contractor. The 23.5 km stretch between Vadpe and Majiwada in Thane is part of National Highway 3.
With Bhiwandi emerging as a major warehousing hub, traffic on this road has significantly increased. Soon, the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Marg will connect with Amane near Bhiwandi on the same highway. Additionally, the Mumbai-Delhi highway is also set to connect at Amane village in Bhiwandi. Given the projected rise in traffic, the state government planned to widen this segment of the national highway between Thane and Vadpe from four lanes to eight lanes through MSRDC. This work, which commenced in 2021, has experienced delays and is now expected to be completed by February 2025. After the MSRDC survey, when a Times of India reporter travelled along this highway, it was observed that MSRDC had filled all the potholes on this section within the last three days.
The ongoing issues with the Thane-Vadpe highway highlight concerns over construction quality, especially given the increasing traffic demands in the area. The state government's commitment to widening the road is essential to accommodate future growth and improve safety. Recent efforts by MSRDC to promptly address potholes demonstrate a proactive approach, but sustained quality assurance will be crucial as the project progresses toward completion.
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