Thane: After several days of rainfall, large stretches of asphalt and concrete roads in Bhiwandi, Kalyan-Dombivli, and Thane have deteriorated, developing potholes and craters that pose serious dangers to commuters. The damaged road surfaces have not only caused frequent traffic snarls but also led to injuries as like back pain among motorists and daily commuters.
In Bhiwandi, the Bhiwandi-Wada Road has become nearly impassable due to an overwhelming number of potholes extending over a 15-kilometer stretch. This road, which serves as a major route connecting Mumbai, Thane, and other cities to Gujarat via Surat, is heavily used by commercial vehicles. However, due to its current condition, many heavy vehicles are now avoiding it altogether to use it. "Despite repeated complaints, the authorities have failed to take any significant action.
Few day ago in this month, a major traffic jam lasting nearly three hours occurred in Borpada village when a heavy vehicle overturned. “We have been facing these problems for years, but no concrete solution has come forward,” said a commuter. Additionally the progress of road work is very slow since a year.
Suyash Sonawane, a lawyer who practices at Bhiwandi and Thane courts, shared his personal experience: “I left my village, Chawa Bhara in Bhiwandi Taluka, for court but had to suffer a bumpy ride. I Spondylitis ailments (spine gap) due to the potholes. Additionally, my car also damage due to 1 foot deep potholes on Ambadi to Bhiwandi stretch.
Commuters said that they are often stuck in traffic for hours due to accidents or mechanical failures of heavy vehicles attempting to navigate the damaged stretches and also road concertizaion work is pending for long years on Bhiwandi-wada road.
"Crossing APJ Abdul Kalam Bridge's located in VP Naka in Bhiwandi City bumpy patches feels like an amusement park ride, especially at night. Waterlogging in potholes only makes it worse," said Gajanan Simpi, an auto driver from Nadinaka area in Bhiwandi.
“The APJ Abdul Kalam bridge at VP Naka is full of potholes, but neither the Bhiwandi-Nizampura Municipal Corporation nor the PWD seems concerned,” said Hemant Shukla, a territory manager who commutes daily on his motorcycle. “It feels like they’re waiting for a tragedy before taking action. Taxpayer money is being wasted on temporary fixes every monsoon.”
Jamil Patel, the city engineer of Bhiwandi Nizampura City Municipal Corporation, said, "We have formed a team, ward-wise, to survey potholes across Bhiwandi. Following the survey, we will fill the potholes accordingly."
On Thursday, under the banner of Shramajivi Sanghatana, hundreds of villagers from Wada, Thane, and Palghar staged road blockades at 12 key locations to protest the poor condition of local roads. Protesters described the pothole-riddled roads as “death traps,” especially during the monsoon season. The demonstrations took place simultaneously across 12 different points, with demands for immediate repair work on the Bhiwandi-Wada and Bhiwandi-Vasai routes.
“These roads have been repaired multiple times, but the quality of work is so poor that they worsen with every monsoon,” said Rambhau Varna, President of Shramajivi Sanghatana. “Despite several appeals to the authorities, no lasting solution has been provided.”
In Kalyan, several key roads such as Durgadi Chowk, Govind Wadi bridge, Juna Kalyan Road, Shahad, and Tilak Chowk have developed numerous potholes. Similar complaints have emerged from Dombivli, particularly from areas like Thakurli Bridge, Garibecha Wada, and Ganesh Nagar.
Local commuters complain that authorities merely fill potholes with loose gravel or stones, which are quickly washed away after rainfall.
Thane’s Ghodbunder Highway: A Daily Nightmare for Commuters
In Thane, motorists using the Ghodbunder Highway—which connects Eastern and Western Express Highways and links Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, and Gujarat—are suffering due to deteriorating road conditions. The worst-affected stretches are Kajupada, Chena Bridge, Nira Kendra (Thane-bound), and Gaimukh Ghat and Kasarvadavli Junction (Borivali-bound).
Over a lakh vehicles, including heavy vehicles, inter-city buses and freight carriers, use the Ghodbunder stretch daily. With no lasting repair work in sight, the residents and daily commuters continue to suffer both physically and financially.
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The daily commute has become increasingly painful. “After finishing my work in Thane’s Majiwada, I boarded a bus to Ghodbunder. It took me nearly 1.5 hours one way due to traffic caused by poor road conditions,” said journalist Virendra Shukla. “The stretch is in pathetic condition, causing delays and constant discomfort.”
