GHODBUNDER ROAD
Approximately 20 kms long Ghodbunder Road is one of the major roads of Thane that links the Eastern Express Highway i.e National Highway 3 to the Western Express Highway to become the National Highway 8 that leads to Gujarat. G.B. Road road skirts the northern boundary of Salsette Island providing scenic views of the Yeoor hills and the Thane creek. It cuts across dense forests which form part of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park and for most of its part overlooks the Vasai Creek. In spite of development encroaching on the forest, much of flora and fauna continue to survive and prosper here. The ever busy Ghodbunder Road has great history as it once played a crucial role in Indo-Arab trade and later the Portuguese used it to monopolise sea routes in the Arabian Sea. Several empires fought wars to control it. The Persian horses that came from the Arab countries used to land in the port (bunder) at the west end of this road. Hence, it initially came to be known as ‘Ghodegaon’ (horse village). Around the time of Chhatrapati Shivaji in the later centuries that the road got named after the port, and was called Ghodbunder Road.
Ghodbunder Road also has many historical places in and around it like the forts of Ghodbunder, Naglakot, Gaimukh Gadi and Firangkot, which although damaged now, unfold stories of the 1500 century era reign of the Portugese. Besides, this area is a treasure trove of rich flora and fauna. There are also hordes of places of natural waterfalls and trekking here. Realizing its tremendous potential as a possible tourist destination, the TMC have begun plans to propose a shallow Water Park of international standards on 200 hectares of land along the Ghodbunder Road.
The proposed metro rail is also at the Ghodbunder Road. With it the travel time between Thane and Wadala is expected to reduce by half.
The TMC has already proposed to have one underground tunnel from Ghodbunder passing through Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali to cut travel time between Thane and Mumbai city.
With all these infrastructure developments in various stages of completion or approval,G.B. Road has become one of the most prime real estate destinations of Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Far-off areas of G.B. Road like Kasarvadavli, Ovala and Bhayanderpada are closely connected to Mira Road Railway Station and Borivali Railway Station, and the road is connected by city buses like BEST (Mumbai City Bus), TMT (Thane Municipal Transport), NMMT (Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport), MBMT (Mira Bhayander Municipal Transport) and VVMT (Vasai Virar City Bus).
Buses connecting Thane, Mulund, Mumbra and Vashi to Borivali Station, Gorai, Vasai, Mira Road, Bhayander, etc. all pass through G.B. Road. In a nutshell, G.B. Road has become a satellite town of Thane and Mumbai.
While property prices in Thane have seen a hike, none have witnessed a hike as steep as the Ghodbunder Road (GB Road), mainly due to its proximity to nature and fast pace of development coupled with Government's proposed plans to enhance connectivity. The corresponding graph tracks the price pattern on GB Road since 2009. Real estate experts believe that property buyers here have enjoyed a 300% growth in the last five years! Economic advisors and analysts suggest an estimated 40% increase of employment opportunities in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), including Thane. Such a predicted hike in jobs would entail a major increase in the demand for housing and subsequently could generate further capital appreciation for real estate investments in Thane.
With a naturally blessed, picturesque location; fast developing social infrastructure; exceptional connectivity Ghodbunder Road is a booming real estate market that fulfills all the expectations of an avid home-seeker as well as an astute investor. Currently it is The Place to be in, if you are interested in real estate around Mumbai.