Motorists are advised to prepare for a year of major traffic changes after the Navi Mumbai Traffic Department announced extensive, year-long restrictions to accommodate CIDCO’s new underground tunnel project.
The disruptions, effective from November 20, 2025, until November 16, 2026, are necessitated by the launch of the Rs 2,100 crore Kharghar–Turbhe link road construction.
Kharghar-Turbhe commute to be cut by 30 minutes
While the construction will cause inconvenience, the completed 1.763-km link promises substantial relief. CIDCO estimates the tunnel will slash the current 40-minute commute between Turbhe and Kharghar to just 10 minutes, significantly easing pressure on the congested Sion–Panvel Highway.
The work zone is now established in the middle of both the Mumbai and Pune-bound highway lanes, just before the Shiravane bridge, forcing immediate traffic regulation.
Key diversions in effect along the Sion-Panvel highway
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Tirupati Kakade, has notified the following mandatory diversions:
- Service Road Change: The Pune-bound service road, running from Sawan Knowledge Park to Delta Stellar Company in Shiravane MIDC, now operates strictly as a one-way route.
- Underpass Closure: The underpass (tunnel) leading from the Shiravane village entrance towards MIDC is closed for the entire project duration.
- Route Re-routing: Vehicles from Uran Phata must now divert through Punyagiri MIDC. Traffic from Nerul’s internal roads is mandated to use the Sion–Panvel Highway. Specific routes via the Juinagar Railway Station service road are designated for Shiravane village traffic.
DCP Kakade urged motorists to cooperate, stating that the measures are “essential to ensure smooth traffic movement and public safety” during the construction. Essential service vehicles remain exempt from the new restrictions.
