THANE: Traffic movement on the Ghodbunder Highway will be affected for five hours between 12 pm and 5 pm on Monday and Tuesday, as the Public Works Department (PWD) carries out the final phase of Gaimukh road repair works, officials said.The Thane traffic police, late on Saturday, imposed a restriction on the movement of heavy vehicles on the highway between Fountain Hotel and Kapurbawdi from 6 am to 11 pm on both days to help prevent congestion.Inter-city traffic, including public transport buses and cars, will be allowed to use the highway and pass through the Ghodbunder to Thane lane during the block period. However, this will be done by regulating opposite-direction traffic in intervals of 20 minutes each.The Ghodbunder Highway is a crucial link for vehicles travelling between Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, and various parts of Maharashtra, as well as Gujarat and northern states. Roughly one lakh vehicles use the highway daily, making it prone to heavy wear and tear.PWD officials said they will carry out micro-surfacing on the already strengthened two lanes of the 650-metre stretch on the Thane to Ghodbunder side. This process will take around three to four hours to cure and settle.

Micro-surfacing will help seal pores in the road surface, preventing water from seeping in during the monsoon and extending the road’s durability. Last year, the repair work was washed away in the first few showers, causing major inconvenience.Meanwhile, repairs on the Ghodbunder to Thane lane beyond Gaimukh remain uncertain, as the PWD has reportedly indicated that this portion of the highway now falls under the jurisdiction of the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation.Experts have highlighted the need for a long-term solution for the highway, which suffers repeated damage, especially during the rainy season.Deputy CM Eknath Shinde stated last week that he would speak to Forest Minister Ganesh Naik to work towards a permanent resolution by concretising the highway stretch.