Good News For Thane Commuters As Heavy Vehicles Restricted On Ghodbunder Road Until Midnight

Last Updated:September 16, 2025, 12:24 IST

Residents of Ghodbunder have long complained about the crippling traffic jams caused by heavy trucks sharing the narrow road with local traffic

Any officer failing to follow the midnight restriction on heavy vehicles will face strict action, Eknath Shinde warned in the meeting. (PTI)

In a major relief for commuters and residents troubled by chronic traffic congestion on Thane’s Ghodbunder Road, Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde has ordered that heavy vehicles will be allowed on the stretch only after midnight.

The decision came late on Monday night during a review meeting held by Shinde with senior officials from multiple departments. The move aims to ensure smoother traffic flow for local residents until road construction work on the Ghodbunder stretch is completed.

Shinde directed that vehicles heading from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) to Ghodbunder Road should not be released before midnight. Instructions to enforce this order were given directly to JNPT’s Managing Director.

“Residents have been suffering from severe traffic congestion for too long. Until the roadwork is finished, strict traffic management is essential,” Shinde said during the meeting. To ensure enforcement, Shinde asked the Thane district collector to lead a coordination committee. This committee will work closely with the Thane Municipal Corporation, Navi Mumbai Police, Palghar district administration, Mira-Bhayander Police, and other civic bodies.

Any officer failing to follow the midnight restriction on heavy vehicles will face strict action, Shinde warned in the meeting. He also instructed Thane Traffic Police to strengthen manpower on the stretch to ensure discipline and smooth movement of vehicles. “If additional personnel are needed, deploy them immediately,” he said.

The order covers not only trucks from JNPT but also vehicles coming from Ahmedabad towards Ghodbunder Road. For this, Shinde spoke directly to Navi Mumbai Traffic Police, Mira-Bhayander Police Commissioner, Mira-Bhayander Municipal Commissioner, Palghar Collector, and Palghar SP. All were directed to ensure trucks from the Ahmedabad side are released only after midnight. To prevent heavy vehicles from lining up along the route, Shinde also asked for designated parking spaces at Achhad and Chinchoti in planar district where trucks can be halted until they are allowed to proceed.

Along with the officials from the police department and civic bodies, representatives of civil society groups like Justice for Ghodbunder Road were also present.

Residents of Ghodbunder have long complained about the crippling traffic jams caused by heavy trucks sharing the narrow road with local traffic. Daily commuters spend hours stuck in bottlenecks, and emergency vehicles often struggle to move through.

Shinde said resolving this was a priority until roadwork is finished. By imposing a strict midnight curfew on heavy vehicles and making the district administration directly accountable, the state government hopes to finally offer relief to thousands of residents and travellers who depend on Ghodbunder Road every day to travel through Thane to reach Mumbai and Navi Mumbai for their work.

About the Author

Mayuresh Ganapatye

Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa…Read More

Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa… Read More

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