Sion-Panvel Highway Update: Kalamboli Junction Set For Major Upgrade, Details Inside

The bustling five-arm Kalamboli junction on the Sion-Panvel highway, which connects national highways 48 and 548 with state highways, is undergoing a significant transformation. Soil testing has started to assess the foundation type and load-bearing capacity for a Rs 482 crore two-level interchange project. This development comes as a priority with the Navi Mumbai International Airport set to begin operations by May, aiming to enhance connectivity, reduce traffic congestion, and curb pollution.

The ambitious project will feature five roads of five kilometres each, seven flyovers stretching three kilometres, and two signal-free underpasses. These underpasses will connect the Panvel-Mumbra road via Shilphata and provide access to the steel market. Heavy traffic from regions like Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Goa, and Panvel, worsened by container trucks heading to and from JNPA, has led to frequent jams and severe pollution at Kalamboli Circle.

Photo Credit: PTI

Strategically located, the Kalamboli junction serves as a vital link to the upcoming airport, the JNPA, and several key routes including the Mumbai-Pune expressway and the old Mumbai-Pune highway. The project is expected to take three years to complete, with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) designing the interchange and Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC) managing execution and funding.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, during a 2023 visit to Panvel, had pledged to address the challenges faced by commuters at the junction. In October last year, his ministry approved Rs 770.49 crore for the upgrade. Sharing details on X, formerly known as Twitter, Gadkari described the design as incorporating a directional/stack system for seamless, signal-free traffic flow, eliminating delays and improving connectivity to the airport and JNPA.

Once completed, the Kalamboli interchange is expected to bring much-needed relief to residents and commuters, ensuring smoother traffic flow and reduced travel times across this vital junction.