State Highway 42 (Maharashtra)

Maharashtra State Highway 42, commonly referred to as Ghodbunder Road or G.B. Road, runs entirely through the district of Thane. It is one of the major roads leading out of Thane city and connects to the Eastern Express Highway coming from south at Kapurbawdi, which joins National Highway 3 at this junction from North-East. It also connects to the Western Express Highway coming from south at Ghodbunder village, which later joins National Highway 8 at this junction traveling Northwards towards Gujarat.

State Highway 42 shield}}
State Highway 42
ghodbunder road thane
Map
Thane ghodbunder road marked in Red on Thane area map
Ghodbunder Road (SH 42) (2319282008).jpg
Aerial view of Ghodbunder Road near Gaimukh
Route information
Maintained by MSRDC
Major junctions
FromKapurbawdi, Thane
Major intersectionsNational Highway 3
National Highway 8
ToGhodbunder, Thane
Location
CountryIndia
StateMaharashtra
DistrictsThane
Highway system
State Highways in Maharashtra

General information

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Maharashtra State Highway 42 is approximately 20 km long and links the two main arterial roads of Mumbai, the Eastern Express Highway and the Western Express Highway. It connects to Eastern Express Highway at Kapurbawdi village and Western Express Highway at Ghodbunder village. The Kapurbawdi bridge has been constructed to ease the traffic congestion.[1] This highway is tolled by the MSRDC.[2] This road skirts the northern boundary of Salsette Island providing scenic views of the Yeoor hills and the Thane creek.

 
Ghodbunder fort ruins

Ghodbunder Road cuts across dense forests which form part of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. It also skirts the Vasai Creek for most of its route and overlooks the forest from across the creek. In spite of development encroaching on the forest, much of flora and fauna continue to survive and prosper. Ghodbunder Road is lined with numerous historical monuments like the Ghodbunder Fort. Naglakot, Gaimukh Gadi and Firangkot, which although damaged now, unfolds stories of the 1500 century era reign of the Portuguese.[3]

This road once played a crucial role in Indo-Arab trade and later the Portuguese used it to monopolise sea routes in the Arabian Sea, at one point acted as a bridge between distant cultures. Several empires fought wars to control it. The Persian horses that came from the Arab countries used to land in the port (bunder) at the west end of this road. Hence, it initially came to be known as Ghodegaon (horse village). Around the time of Chhatrapati Shivaji, the road was renamed as Ghodbunder Road after the port.[4]

Locals say that till 1950, it was only a dirt road with residents of centuries old villages like Waghbil, Majhiwada, Patlipada, Ghodbunder, Kolshet and Kasarwadavli using bullock carts for transport. The surrounding forests had considerable plants like cashew, mangoes that were brought in by the Portuguese. The area was very rich in flora and fauna.[4]

Mumbai Metro Line 4 (Upcoming)

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Green Line 4 of the Mumbai Metro, currently under construction, is part of the metro system for the city of Mumbai, India and is being developed by MMRDA and a consortium of international companies.[5]

The 32.32 km (20.08 mi) line is planned to be fully elevated, and is expected to consist of 32 stations from Wadala, Mumbai to Kasarvadavali via Ghatkopar, Mulund. It is estimated to cost 14,549 crore (US$1.7 billion) (₹145.49 billion).[6] Its construction was expected to begin by June 2018.

It is expected to be completed in 2022 and is expected to provide interconnectivity among the existing Eastern Express Highway, Central Railway, Mono Rail, the ongoing Metro Line 2B (D N Nagar to Mandale), and the proposed Metro Line 5 (Thane to Kalyan), Metro Line 6 (Swami Samarth Nagar to Vikhroli) and Metro Line 11 (Wadala to CSMT). It will provide rail based access to the commercial, government bodies and geographical landmarks in Mumbai. It will reduce the current travel time by between 50% and 75% depending on road conditions.

Major junctions

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The following roads either emanate from it or are crossed by it. This list has been separated by district and talukas for easy reading.

Taluka Distance Location of Junction Junction
Thane District
Thane 0 km (0 mi) Majiwada[7]   National Highway 3
104 km (65 mi) Ghodbunder[7]   National Highway 8
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "dna exclusive: 767-metre-long Kapurbawdi flyover opening on Nov 15 in Mumbai". dna. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  2. ^ Tripathi, Vedika (10 November 2008). "Ghodbunder Road toll naka gives chocolates, not change". Mid-Day. Mumbai. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  3. ^ "Ghodbunder Road Development Plan". hiranandani.com. 1 January 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Ever busy Ghodbunder Road in Thane was once a route for Arabian horses". indianexpress.com. 11 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Mumbai Metro line 4 - current status". www.mmrda.maharashtra.gov.in/. MMRDA official website. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  6. ^ "Everything you need to know about Metro 2B and Metro 4 | Free Press Journal". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  7. ^ a b "National Highway 3 intersection with State Highway 10 at Malegaon Taluka". Mahapwd.com. Retrieved 22 October 2012. [dead link]