Thane [India], September 21: Thane and Navi Mumbai are set to get another important road connection with the proposed Kopri-Patni Creek Bridge, a major infrastructure project planned across Thane Creek. The new crossing is expected to provide a more direct route between Kopri in Thane East and Patni in Navi Mumbai, while adding another link to the region’s increasingly busy road network.
The project has moved forward with Akshya Infra Projects emerging as the lowest bidder for a contract valued at around ₹561 crore. The contract covers the design and construction of the creek bridge along with its approach road and is being taken up by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
The proposed bridge will start from Mith Bandar Road in Kopri, around 750 metres from Thane railway station, and cross Thane Creek before connecting near Airoli Knowledge City Road in Navi Mumbai. This alignment will create a direct connection between Thane Station Road and the Thane-Belapur Road corridor, providing an additional route for commuters travelling between the two cities.
The crossing is planned to be around 1.4 km long. The project has been described as a six-lane bridge in recent reports, while MMRDA’s detailed project information specifies a minimum 2+2-lane carriageway with provision for additional lanes in the future and an extradosed cable-stayed main bridge designed with a larger future capacity.
The bridge is being planned at a time when the existing road connections between Thane and Navi Mumbai frequently experience heavy traffic, particularly during peak hours. The Airoli-Mulund Creek Bridge and Kalwa Creek Bridge currently handle a substantial share of road traffic between the two areas. A new crossing at Kopri-Patni is expected to provide an alternative route and distribute traffic across multiple creek crossings.
For daily commuters, the new link could become particularly useful because of its proximity to Thane railway station and the major roads on the Navi Mumbai side. Instead of depending entirely on existing creek bridges, vehicles would have another connection between the Thane and Navi Mumbai road networks. The expected impact on actual travel time will depend on traffic conditions and the connectivity available on both approaches after the project is completed.
The project has also been modified over time to accommodate wider regional infrastructure requirements. According to MMRDA, the original project received approval for an estimated ₹333 crore in 2022. The design was subsequently revised to ensure compatibility with the Thane Coastal Road-2 project and Navi Mumbai International Airport connectivity corridor. The revised estimated project cost was approved at ₹723.42 crore in February 2026.
The detailed MMRDA plan includes approximately 1,026 metres of viaduct, a 299-metre solid approach on the Patni side and a 74-metre approach on the Kopri side. It also includes an elevated rotary of approximately 445 metres. The main creek crossing is planned as an extradosed cable-stayed bridge, with a 240-metre main structure and a 120-metre central navigation span.
The bridge is expected to take around 42 months to complete once construction begins. MMRDA’s project information also shows that several statutory and land-related processes are part of the development, including requirements connected with forest and CRZ clearances and permissions concerning mangrove cutting. Land acquisition requirements have also been identified on the Kopri and Patni sides.
The Kopri-Patni bridge is also being planned as part of the broader transformation of transport infrastructure across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Navi Mumbai is witnessing major development around the Thane-Belapur Road corridor, Airoli, the Navi Mumbai International Airport and several new road and metro projects. A new creek crossing could therefore serve not only existing commuters but also support growing movement between residential, commercial and employment hubs.
The project is expected to reduce dependence on the existing creek crossings once it becomes operational. However, the extent of traffic relief and travel-time savings will ultimately depend on the completed road network, traffic volumes and connections at either end of the bridge.
With the tender process advancing and Akshya Infra Projects emerging as the lowest bidder for the latest contract, the Kopri-Patni Creek Bridge has entered an important stage. Once completed, the new crossing will add another strategic road connection between Thane and Navi Mumbai, strengthening the wider transport network of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
