Transport in Thane
Thane is well connected to other regions by an extensive network of Railways and Roadways - including one national highway passing through Thane. As Thane is next to Mulund (which is the last station of Mumbai's Eastern Suburb), Airoli (which is the first station of Navi Mumbai's North-Western suburb), Bhiwandi the Junction to (2 Twin cities) of Kalyan- Dombivali & Vasai -Virar, and the Borivali Mumbai's Western Suburb & Mira Road/Bhayander through Ghodbunder Road, most parts of the city are easily accessible.
Railways
Road Transport
Public Transport System (Buses)
Thane is accessible by BEST buses which cater to people commuting to places like Andheri, Ghatkopar, Borivali, Trombay & also BRTS BEST (A/c Super) bus ply towards south Mumbai; TMT buses are main source of Transport inside Thane City and towards Bhiwandi, NMMT ply in Thane towards Vashi, KDMT towards Kalyan & Bhiwandi, MBMT towards Bhayander & MSRTC commonly known as ST ply their buses from Thane to various other destinations across the State of Maharashtra.
Thane Municipal Transport (TMT)
Thane Municipal Transport (TMT) Thane Municipal Corporation started its own transport service on 9 February 1989, known as TMT ~ Thane Municipal Transport.[1] TMT is the major bus service provider in Thane. TMT has all its bus depots in Thane and numerous bus stops. The Biggest depot being at Kalwa depot. TMT plys its buses inside Thane city and also towards Bhiwandi, Kalwa & Mumbra. Some of the major BusStops / junctions which are always crowded than any other bus stops in Thane these are Thane Station W & E, Kapurbawdi Junction, Manpada, Majiwada, Teen Haat Naka, Cadbury Junction, Jambli Naka/ Court Naka .
List of some important TMT bus route plying to and from Thane to other Municipal Borders. Mira-Road Station (E){MBMC}; Mulund Station (MCC College)& Kelkar College{BMC}; Narpoli-Bhiwandi(BNMC); Anand Nagar & Ganpatipada {NMMC}.
| Route | Route No | Starting | Destination | Route Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC | AC65 | Thane Railway Station East(KOPRI) | Borivali Station East | via Ghodbunder Road |
| Ordinary | 57 | Thane Railway Station East(KOPRI) | Mira Road Station East | via Ghodbunder Road |
| Ordinary | 58 | Lokamanya Nagar | Mira Road Station East | via Thane Railway Station (W), Ghodbunder Road |
| Ordinary | 75(a) | Kalsekar College(MUMBRA) | Mira Road Station East | via Thane Chendani Koliwada (CIDCO), Ghodbunder Road, Golden Nest Circle(Bhayander) |
| Ordinary | 75(b) | Thane Chendani Koliwada (CIDCO) | Mira Road Station East | via Ghodbunder Road, Golden Nest Circle(Bhayander) |
| Info | Details |
|---|---|
| No of Buses | 289 |
| No of Routes | 45 |
| No of Depot | 3 Kalwa Depot & Wagale Estate Depot (Kolshet Depot)*Proposed |
| No of Bus Stands | 8 |
| No of Bus Stops | 874[1] |
| Running km Per Day | 63135 |
| No of Bus Trips per Day | 7114 |
| Bus Travellers Per Day | 280017 |
| Daily Income Rs. | 1388547/- |
| Running km Per day Per Bus | 211 |
| No of Employees | 2558[1] |
Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply & Transport (BEST)
Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) is second largest bus service provider in Thane. List of some important BEST bus route numbers plying to and from Thane.
| Route | Route No | Starting | Destination | Route Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC | AS-1 | Backbay Depot | Cadbury Junction | via Eastern Express Highway |
| AC | AS-3 | Nehru Planetarium (Worli) | Cadbury Junction | via Eastern Express Highway |
| AC | AS-5 | Bandra East Bus Station | Cadbury Junction | via Eastern Express Highway, Santacruz Chembur Link Road |
| AC Express | A-13 EXP | Backbay Depot | Hiranandani Estate / Lodha Paradise | via Eastern Express Highway |
| Express | C-42 EXP | Rani Laxmibai Chowk (Sion) | Balkum, Dadlani Park | via Eastern Express Highway |
| Express | C-44 EXP | Marol Depot | Pawar Nagar | via LBS Road |
| Express | C-46 EXP | Marol Depot | Lodha Paradise | via LBS Marg |
| Express | C-61 EXP | Mira Road Rly Stn (E) | Mulund Depot | via Ghodbunder Road, Mulund Rly Stn (W) |
| Express | C-198 T EXP | P.Thakre Udyan Bus Stn (Sewree) | Cadbury Junction | via Eastern Express Highway |
| Limited | 399 LTD | Trombay | Marathon Chowk | |
| Limited | 453 LTD | Wadala Depot | Lokmanya Nagar | via LBS Road, Eastern Express Highway |
| Limited | 458 LTD | Malad Depot | Marathon Chowk | via LBS Road, Jogeshwary Vikhroli Link Road, Western Express Highway |
| Limited | 484 LTD | Mhada Bus Stn Mulund (E) | Pawar Nagar | via LBS Road, Mulund Station (W) |
| Limited | 487 LTD | Ghatkopar Depot | Bramhand | via LBS Road |
| Limited | 491 LTD | SEEPZ | Bramhand | via Western Express Highway, Dahisar Checknaka |
| Limited | 492 LTD | SEEPZ | Waghbil Village / Hiranandani Estate | via Bhramhand, Eastern Express Highway, Powai |
| Limited | 493 LTD | Anushakti Nagar | Balkum, Dadlani Park | via Eastern Express Highway |
| Limited | 494 LTD | Ghatkopar Depot | Retibundar (Kalwa) | via LBS Road |
| Ordinary | 495 | Gawanpada Mulund (E) | Thane Rly Stn (E) | via Hari Om Nagar |
| Limited | 496 LTD | Agarkar Chowk Andheri Rly Stn (E) | Marathon Chowk | via LBS Marg, Powai |
| Limited | 497 LTD | Ghatkopar Depot | Lokmanya Tilak Nagar | via LBS Road, Wagale Estate |
| Limited | 499 LTD | Ghatkopar Depot | Vrindavan Society | via LBS Road |
| Limited | 700 LTD | Magathane Depot | Thane Rly Stn (E) | via Ghodbunder Road, Borivali Station (E) |
| AC | AS-700 | Magathane Depot | Thane Rly Stn (E) | via Ghodbunder Road, Borivali Station (E) |
Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT)
Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) ply in direction towards Vashi and New Mumbai. It goes through Airoli, Turbe etc. Most of NMMT buses ply in Thane from the Kalva area. They are the main Connector between Thane City & Navi Mumbai. The Major Bus Starting point is Cidco Bus Stop [Near VPM's Joshi-Bedekar College, Chendani Koliwada (Thane Station - West)].
List of NMMT bus routes from Thane
| Route No | Starting (Thane) | Destination | Route Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thane Railway Station (Chendani) | Vashi Railway Station | via Turbhe Naka |
| 2 | Thane Railway Station (Chendani) | Divanagar Sector 10 | via Digha |
| 4 | Thane Railway Station (Chendani) | Vashi Sector-6 | via Koparkhairane |
| 8 | Thane Railway Station (Chendani) | Vashi Railway Station | via Ghansoli |
| 11 | Thane Railway Station (Chendani) | Vashi Railway Station | via MIDC |
| 12 | Thane Railway Station (Chendani) | Mahape Bus Stand | via MIDC |
| 16 | Lodha Paradise | CBD Belapur | via Majiwada, Thane Railway Station (Chendani) |
| 18 | Brahmand (Ghodbunder Road) | Vashi Sector-6 | via Dhokali, Thane Railway Station (Chendani) |
| 24 | Thane Railway Station (Chendani) | New Panvel Bus Stand | via Patni Computers |
| 26 | Thane Railway Station (Chendani) | Kharghar (Jalvayu Vihar) | via Airoli Bus Stn |
| 27 | Thane Railway Station (Chendani) | Karave Sector 46/48 | via Turbhe Naka |
| 28 | Thane Railway Station (Chendani) | CBD(Artist Colony) | via MIDC |
| 29 | Thane Railway Station (Chendani) | Kharghar (Jalvayu Vihar) | via Nerul(E) |
| 34 | Thane Railway Station (Chendani) | Karave Sector 46/48 | via Nerul LP |
| 81 | Thane Railway Station (Chendani) | Vashi Bus Station | via Parsik Nagar, Mumbra |
Kalyan-Dombivili Municipal Transport (KDMT)
Kalyan-Dombivili Municipal Transport KDMT is operating bus service between Kalyan-Bhiwandi and has started a new Bus Service in Thane City connecting Kalyan - Dombivili to Thane City. They currently have one Bus Service which was started from October 2009.
| Route | Route No | Starting | Destination (Thane) | Route Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary | 17 | Kalyan Railway Station (West) | Lodha Paradise) | Eastern Express Highway, Bhiwandi Bypass, Kon Gaon[2] |
Mira Bhayandar Municipal Transport (MBMT)
Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Transport (MBMT) is the newest Public Transport, The Buses are ply from Dahisar Check naka towards Versova [Thane] Check naka. So till now Majority of MBMT buses can be taken up at the Check naka only. MBMT has started new services to Thane City from January 2010.
| Route | Route No | Starting | Destination (Thane) | Route Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary | 7 | Bhayander Railway Station (West) | Ghodbunder Village | Kashimira[3] |
| Limited | 10 LTD | Bhayander Railway Station (West) | Thane Railway Station (East) | Ghodbunder Road |
| Ordinary | 29 | Mira Road Railway Station | Marathon Chowk (Teen Haath Naka) | Ghodbunder Road |
Vasai-Virar Municipal Transport (VVMT)
Vasai-Virar Municipal Transport (VVMT) (VVMT) is the newest Public Transport, Operational from October 2013. The area of Thane City was connected to the Vasai & Virar by the VVMT. From place of Vasai it starts its services towards Thane & Mulund. The inter city connection between the Vasai-Virar Town (which on the western side) & Thane / Mulund (Mumbai Suburb) (which is on the central side).
| Route | Route No | Starting | Destination (Thane) | Route Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary | 111 | Vasai Court/Tahasildar Office | Mulund East | Via Ahemdabad Highway, Godbunder Road, Eastern Express Highway, LBS Marg, Mulund West |
| Ordinary | 112 | Vasai Court/Tahasildar Office | Thane Rly Station East | Via Ahemdabad Highway, Godbunder Road, Eastern Express Highway, Kopari[4] |
Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC)
MSRTC has a major base in Thane city, with 3 major bus stations (Thane Rly Station, CBS Khopat, Vandana Talkies), 2 depots (Thane-1 & Thane-2) and 1 divisional workshop (Kalwa). The Biggest Transport player in State of Maharashtra and in Thane City, although with introduction of Various Other corporation's Public Transport the dependency on the MSRTC have been declined. BEST & TMT are major Competitor's which is giving MSTRC a stiff competition. To bounce back MSRTC have started new Services towards MUMBAI (Mantralaya & Andheri), NAVI MUMBAI (Vashi & Panvel), VIRAR & NALASOPARA
Following are the major routes plying from the 3 major bus stations in Thane
| Bus Station | Bus Services | Location | Bus Routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thane Railway Station | Asiad ST-Ordinary |
Thane Railway Station West | Places in Thane District (Borivali (Sukurwadi), Bhayandar Railway Station (West), Vasai Depot / Vasai Road Railway Station (West), Nallasopara Bus Station, Arnala Bus Depot / Virar Railway Station (West), Palghar Railway Station (East), Boisar Bus Station, Uran, Jawhar, Talasari, Mokhada, Wada, Bhiwandi Depot,Purna-Bhiwandi, Panvel Bus Station, Rabale Naka, Kokanbhavan) |
| Vandana Talkies | Shivneri Asiad ST-Ordinary |
3 Petrol Pump, Near Harinivas Circle | Towards/via Pune(Pune, Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Belgaum, Hubli, Karwar, Hyderabad, Bangalore) |
| Central Bus Station (CBS) Khopat | Asiad ST-Ordinary |
Khopat, Near Cadbury Junction | Towards/via Nashik and Konkan (Nashik, Shirdi, Dhule, Aurangabad, Jalgaon, Goa, Sawantwadi, Ratnagiri, Malvan, Alibaug, Baroda, Ahmedabad) |
Private Transport System
Even though a variety of the Public Transport are available for the commuters, still the Private Buses Operators give an extra option within Thane City. Most of the Big Residential Societies have their own Bus facilities. They all have scattered Stops either in West or East of the Thane Station. Existence of these facitlites are also due to inadequate Public Transport within the City.
Autorickshaws
If you like to travel within Thane then Auto-rickshaws are the Best but costly option. The Starting Fare of Auto in Thane City is Rs. 18. The travelling can be quick as Thane City have many Internal Roads which are used as a short cut to the major Roads. Auto shall be only available within the Toll Naka of the City. If you like to travel to Mumbai(Mulund) then you need to change the Auto from toll naka and then take other Auto which Ply in Mumbai Suburb. Auto rickshaws also go towards Bhiwandi from Thane Railway station, Cidco & Kapurbawdi
Taxis
Taxis are also very common in Thane, travelling inter city like Nashik, Pune or even Mumbai. As the closest Airport for Thane City is Mumbai Airport commuters can go for the Normal Taxies. Major Tax Stand in Thane is at Thane Railway Station (W) and at the Mulund-Thane Check Naka on Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg.
A/C Cabs
Various Private A/C Cabs provide services in Thane City. Some of the Major Private A/c Cabs Proivders are
- Coolcabs
- Meru
- Mega Cabs
- Easycabs
- Tab Cab
They Provide Services to Airport,Railway Stations Like Thane Railway Station, Kalyan Junction, Dadar Terminus, Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Bandra Terminus, Mumbai Central, Borivali Station& so on. It also provides services in other Major Cites nearby Bhiwandi, Nashik and Pune Panvel, Khopoli. These providers have numbers from which you can book a cab anytime from anywhere.
Connecting roads
Thane is home to 2 of the 5 ways leading into Mumbai : The Eastern Express Highway(NH3) and Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg. (The other 3 entrances are from Goregaon Link Road from Navi Mumbai, Chembur and Dahisar). Ghodhbunder Road is the other Important Road which connects the Thane City towards the Western Side of the Mumbai & Thane District, It connets to Borivali & Mira-Road. Agra Road is used to travel towards the City of Kalyan, Bhiwandi & Dombivali.
Traffic problems
Thane has become crowded over the years, and the infrastructure has been successful in coping with the growing population. The per capita income of the residents has increased enormously, leading to an increase in vehicles every year. Many arterial roads in Thane are concretised, thus not needing resurfacing every year. Some of these roads have been converted to One-Way to nullify the effect of the growing traffic. Traffic woes still exist in some areas like the railway station, market and near the malls and also the major Junctions.
The Biggest Progress has been seen at Ghodbunder Road, where the whole road is concretized & have 4 Lanes on each side and Various Flyovers projects are completed the biggest Flyover at Majiwada is under construction which will ease the traffic blockages on this Road. Internal Roads are still 2 lane road but most are being converted from Tar to Concrete Roads. The Bridge at the Thane Station ~ West has been completed and thus exit from the Station from Public Transport has become more quick as there is no traffic on the Bridge.
Future of transport in Thane
A light rail network covering 42 km has been proposed in three phases. In the first phase, consultants have suggested connectivity between Balkum and Kolshet via Naupada. It will be 16.05 km long with 14.65 km elevated, and only 1.4 km on the surface, and 11 stations in all.[5]
Metro is also in the proposal of a possibly specific development Plan but nothing yet has been said about its Phases as it is just a suggestion and thought.
See also
References
- ^ a b c [1] Archived 2008-11-13 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Bus service from Thane to Kalyan to begin soon". The Times of India. (14 February 2009).
- ^ Know your Town Better. Mira-Road.com.
- ^ [2]. Vasai.com.
- ^ Times of India report. timesofindia.indiatimes.com. (26 December 2005).
