When will the Kopri bridge project start? Kopri bridge-widening has not taken off even after 10 years Padmja Sinha @PADMJA Published Date: Dec 07, 2013 Thane: Thane is growing fast with several changes taking place, especially on the infrastructural side. Recently, the Kapurbawdi flyover was inaugurated to ease the city’s traffic, but the residents still worry about the Kopri bridge-widening project, which has not taken off even after 10 years. In the past few years, there has been substantial increase in the vehicular traffic, but Kopri bridge is still a 2x2 lane road. This bridge is important as it links Thane to Mumbai and most motorists use it, resulting in heavy traffic. In order to speed up the project, a signature campaign was conducted. The initiative was backed by former MLC Sanjay Kelkar, activist Satyajit Shah and active resident Nilesh Ambekar. Interestingly, 1,179 people supported the cause and signed for speedy work. Expansion of Kopri bridge has been an old issue which has been stuck between the railways and public works department. Both are passing the buck even as residents continue to suffer. In 2003, a budget of Rs9 crore was sanctioned for the expansion, but thanks to the delay due to lack of co-ordination between the two departments, the cost has escalated to Rs50 crore. Commuters say the two lanes going towards Mumbai and the other two lanes for coming to Thane cannot handle the increasing number of vehicles. Executive engineer of PWD Ramesh Agwane’s visit has yielded little. On the progress, Agwane said, “We have been instructed to submit a fresh design for the bridge to our department, for approval. A proposal will be sent to the railways asking for mega blocks to start the work.” He added, “Work will start soon.” The railway officials did not say anything as PWD has to approve the design.