In response to Unstarred Question No. 2113 in Lok Sabha, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, provided the following information on February 12, 2026, regarding traffic jams on the Thane-Vadpe Highway, specifically answering questions from Shri Balya Mama Suresh Gopinath Mhatre.
The Ministry has sanctioned the widening of the Thane-Vadpe section of National Highway (NH)-848 from 4 lanes to 8 lanes, with a 2-lane service road on both sides. The targeted completion date for this widening project is March 2026. The Anjur Phata to Kalyan Naka road falls under the jurisdiction of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
Road accident data for NH-848 and NH-61 within the Bhiwandi district for the past three calendar years is:
**NH-848:**
* 2023: 63 Accidents, 54 Injuries, 9 Fatalities
* 2024: 89 Accidents, 74 Injuries, 15 Fatalities
* 2025: 36 Accidents, 24 Injuries, 12 Fatalities
* Total: 188 Accidents, 152 Injuries, 36 Fatalities
**NH-61:**
* 2023: 5 Accidents, 3 Injuries, 2 Fatalities
* 2024: 6 Accidents, 4 Injuries, 2 Fatalities
* 2025: 0 Accidents, 0 Injuries, 0 Fatalities
* Total: 11 Accidents, 7 Injuries, 4 Fatalities
Fatalities were attributed to over-speeding, rash driving, drink & driving, and lane indiscipline. To enhance road safety on NH-848, the Thane-Vadpe section widening project includes provisions for one flyover, nine vehicular underpasses, and one light vehicular underpass.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and maintenance of national highways and transportation infrastructure, answering the parliamentary question about traffic issues.
Thane-Vadpe Highway: The highway experiencing traffic jams, which is the subject of the parliamentary question and proposed widening project.
National Highway (NH)-848: The specific national highway section being widened to alleviate traffic congestion on the Thane-Vadpe section.
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA): Regional authority with jurisdiction over the Anjur Phata to Kalyan Naka road.
Bhiwandi: Location experiencing traffic congestion and road accidents. It falls within the Thane district.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2113
ANSWERED ON 12TH FEBURARY, 2026
TRAFFIC JAMS ON THE THANE–VADPE HIGHWAY
†2113. SHRI BALYA MAMA SURESH GOPINATH MHATRE:
Will the MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the steps being taken by the Government to address the problem of
severe traffic congestion on the Thane–Vadpe Highway at Bhiwandi in
Thane, Maharashtra;
(b) the details of progress made in the road widening project from Anjur
Phata to Kalyan Naka;
(c) the rate of road accidents on National Highways in Bhiwandi district;
and
(d) whether any concrete steps are being taken by the Ministry to
enhance road safety and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons
therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) The Government in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has
sanctioned the widening of Thane-Vadpe section of National Highway
(NH)-848 from existing 4-lanes to 8-lanes with 2-lane service road on both
sides to address the problem of severe traffic congestion. The widening
work is under implementation with target for completion in March, 2026.
(b) Anjur Phata to Kalyan Naka road is State Road under the jurisdiction
of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).(c) The details of road accidents during the last three calendar years on
NH-848 and NH-61 falling within the Bhiwandi district are as under:
NH No. Year Number of Injuries Fatalities attributed various
Accidents reasons for causing of the
accidents viz. Over
speeding, Rash Driving,
Drink & Driving, Lane
Indiscipline etc.
848 2023 63 54 9
2024 89 74 15
2025 36 24 12
Total 188 152 36
61 2023 5 3 2
2024 6 4 2
2025 0 0 0
Total 11 7 4
(d) In order to enhance the road safety on NH-848, one fly–over, nine
vehicular underpasses and one light vehicular underpass are provisioned
in the widening work of Thane -Vadpe section.
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