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PWD seeks forest clearance for new Diva–Shilphata creek bridge — a vital missing link for Thane’s road network

  • Writer: Ajjay Bhagyakar
    Ajjay Bhagyakar
  • Nov 1
  • 3 min read

By Ajjay Bhagyakar · Published by Griha Realty · Sources: x.com, PWD tender notices, MCZMA minutes, local press

new Diva–Shilphata creek bridge
Sources: x.com,

Thane, Maharashtra — The Public Works Department (PWD), Government of Maharashtra, has applied for forest clearance to construct a new bridge on the Diva Railway Station → Shilphata road (MDR-79) across a creek at Km 3/020 in Thane taluka — a project that, if cleared, will stitch together a congested suburban corridor and improve connectivity for commuters and goods movement in the eastern suburbs. X (formerly Twitter)+1


What’s proposed new diva–shilphata creek bridge


The proposed structure is a road bridge across a creek on MDR-79 that links the area around Diva Junction to the Shilphata–Diva road axis. The formal move for forest clearance follows the PWD’s tendering process (NIT_NO_67_FOR_2023_24), indicating the state’s intent to execute the civil works soon after statutory approvals. TendersOnTime


Why this bridge matters


new Diva–Shilphata creek bridge form a critical interchange in Thane’s peri-urban ring. The new bridge would:

  • Provide a direct, all-weather road link across the creek, reducing detours and travel time between Diva and Shilphata localities. moovitapp.com

  • Complement ongoing road-over-rail works and level crossing mitigation measures around Diva Junction — projects aimed at easing commuter delays on one of Central Railway’s busy suburban stretches. indiarailinfo.com

  • Support local economic activity (warehousing, small industry and last-mile logistics) by improving access to industrial pockets and arterial roads feeding into the Mumbai metropolitan area.

Taken together, these benefits make the bridge a high-impact, local infrastructure investment even if its footprint is geographically small.


Environmental and regulatory considerations


Because the alignment crosses creekside areas and mangrove-fringe zones, the PWD’s forest-clearance filing triggers a sequence of environmental assessments and statutory permits. Coastal and creek ecosystems in the Thane–Kalyan belt are sensitive: previous project documents and coastal zone management minutes show that bridge works in the area have historically required detailed clearances and compensatory measures due to mangrove presence and hydrology concerns. mczma.gov.in

Key environmental checkpoints that the PWD will likely need to address before construction can begin:


  • Forest/forest-land diversion clearance: Formal application and site-specific mitigation plan. X (formerly Twitter)

  • Coastal Zone Management (CZMP/MCZMA) clearances where applicable, especially if any mangrove removal or creek-affecting works are proposed. mczma.gov.in

  • Hydrology and sedimentation study: To ensure the bridge design does not worsen tidal flow, erosion or local flooding during monsoon.

  • Compensatory afforestation and biodiversity offsets, if the project impacts forested or mangrove patches.

These are standard, but essential, steps — and they explain why some local bridges take years to move from plan to pavement.


Project status and timeline signals


Tender notices and corrigenda published by PWD show administrative progress on procurement for the Diva–Shilphata bridge, with tender references dating to the 2023–24 cycle; the new forest-clearance filing is the most recent procedural milestone signaling that the project team is moving into statutory approval mode. TendersOnTime+1

Local press and civic reporting on related works at Diva — including road-over-rail girders and level-crossing closures — indicate a broader infrastructure push in the area to reduce rail-road conflicts and streamline suburban traffic flows. The new creek crossing should fit into that larger programmatic picture if environmental clearance and procurement align.


What residents and stakeholders should watch next


  • Public notices from the PWD and the district forest department: these will confirm the exact area proposed for diversion and list avenues for objections or representation. TendersOnTime+1

  • MCZMA/CZMP proceedings (if invoked): these will show whether mangrove policy or local coastal rules affect the design or require mitigation. mczma.gov.in

  • Tender updates and contractor mobilization on official procurement portals — a sign that funding and implementation are ready to move after approvals. TendersOnTime


Bottom line


The PWD’s application for forest clearance is a noteworthy step toward building a vital link between Diva and Shilphata. If approvals proceed smoothly and environmental safeguards are robustly enforced, the bridge could deliver immediate commuter benefits and strengthen Thane’s local road network. At the same time, stakeholders must follow the clearance process closely to ensure ecological sensitivities — particularly creek and mangrove habitats — are properly protected and compensated.


Byline: Ajjay Bhagyakar • Griha Realty Primary source: X (Chandrashekhar Dhage post). Additional reporting and documentary sources: PWD tender notices, MCZMA minutes and coverage on Diva road/ROB developments by local press. indiarailinfo.com+3X (formerly Twitter)+3TendersOnTime+3

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