Construction has started on the Rs 20.99 billion Kharghar-Turbhe Tunnel Link Road (KTLR), a transformative project that will reduce travel time between Turbhe and Kharghar from 40 minutes to just 10 minutes, while alleviating congestion on the busy Sion-Panvel highway. The project, aimed at improving east-west connectivity in Navi Mumbai and enhancing links to the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), is expected to be completed by September 2028, according to officials. Motorists traveling via the Sion-Panvel highway will benefit from the new route starting at Juinagar railway station, cutting their commute by 30 minutes. The road will also provide seamless access to the Atal Setu bridge and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, said a City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) official, the nodal agency overseeing the project. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) prepared the detailed project report, later reviewed by CIDCO. The plan includes a 1.8-km twin tunnel through Kharghar hill, a 3.4-km elevated viaduct, and a 1.5-km elevated road connecting Central Park to the Taloja central jail. The road will originate in Turbhe, run parallel to the Sion-Panvel highway up to Juinagar railway station, traverse the Kharghar hill through twin tunnels, and terminate at Central Park junction in Kharghar. Additional infrastructure includes a subway connecting Central Park to the proposed international corporate park. Once operational, the KTLR will offer faster connectivity to key destinations such as Kharghar, Taloja, and nearby industrial zones, while giving Mumbai and Thane residents direct access to the CIDCO golf course in Navi Mumbai. The contract for the project was awarded to Rithwik Projects Pvt. in October 2023, with the letter of award for design, construction, and commissioning issued in February 2024. "Work has officially begun and is progressing as per schedule, with a planned completion in four years. All regulatory protocols are being followed," stated a CIDCO official. (Hindustan Times)