With major public inconvenience expected during the launch of CIDCO’s underground tunnel project between Kharghar Gurudwara and Juinagar railway station, the Navi Mumbai Traffic Department has issued year-long traffic restrictions and diversions along key stretches of the Sion–Panvel Highway. CIDCO has stated that the 1.763-kilometre Kharghar–Turbhe link road project will significantly reduce travel time between Kharghar, Belapur and Turbhe by nearly 30 minutes. Once completed, the new tunnel is expected to cut the current 40-minute commute between Turbhe and Kharghar to just 10 minutes, easing pressure on the heavily congested Sion–Panvel corridor. Construction on the underground tunnel—estimated at around Rs 21 billion—began on Thursday. The work zone is being set up in the median of both Mumbai and Pune-bound lanes, around 100 metres before the Shiravane bridge, prompting authorities to regulate traffic for safety and congestion control. To minimise disruption, Navi Mumbai Traffic Police have enforced diversions from 20 November this year until 16 November next year. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Tirupati Kakade announced that the Pune-bound service road from Sawan Knowledge Park to Delta Stellar Company in Shiravane MIDC will operate as a one-way route. The underpass from Shiravane village towards MIDC will remain fully closed throughout the construction period. As per the notification, vehicles from Uran Phata will be diverted via Punyagiri MIDC. Motorists from internal Nerul roads must use the Sion–Panvel Highway. Traffic from Shiravane village will be routed either through the Juinagar Railway Station service road or the LP Bridge service road, depending on destination. Vehicles from Nerul and Shiravane may also use the Mumbai-bound lane of the highway as an alternative. “These diversions are essential to ensure smooth traffic movement and public safety during the construction period. We urge motorists to cooperate and use the designated alternative routes,” Kakade said. Essential service vehicles—including police, fire brigade, ambulances and government vehicles—are exempt. The notification remains effective from 00:01 hrs on 20 November 2025 to midnight on 16 November 2026, covering the full duration of the CIDCO project.