Eastern Express Highway and LBS Road: What They Mean for Thane West

This table compares both roads, so you can see how they differ.

The Eastern Express Highway runs about 23.5 km between Thane and south Mumbai. It is six lanes wide for most of its length, with over a dozen flyovers. It also forms part of National Highway 48.

For people in Thane West, this highway is the quickest way into Mumbai by road. It links with the Eastern Freeway near Chembur, which carries traffic to south Mumbai without city signals.

The highway connects to several cross roads, and these open up the rest of Mumbai:

• The Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) at Vikhroli leads west to Powai, SEEPZ and the airport area.
• The Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) leads to Kurla, BKC and the western suburbs.
• The road to the Airoli bridge near Mulund links Thane to Navi Mumbai.
• Ghodbunder Road starts at Kapurbawdi and runs north to the Western Express Highway.

So from one highway, you can reach almost every major job hub in the Mumbai region. That reach is what makes homes near the highway so useful for working couples.

LBS Road, also known as Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, runs about 21 km from Thane to Sion. It was once called the Old Agra Road, since it formed part of the old route to Agra. Today it passes through Mulund, Bhandup, Vikhroli, Ghatkopar and Kurla.

Unlike the highway, LBS Road is lined with homes, shops, offices and malls. Around 3 lakh vehicles use it each day, as per Wikipedia. It works best for short trips to nearby suburbs rather than long drives to south Mumbai. Many people also use it to reach local markets, banks and clinics along the way.

These two roads pass some of the Mumbai region's busiest work and shopping areas. Vikhroli is home to the large Godrej campus, while Powai sits a short drive west through the JVLR. BKC, one of Mumbai's top office hubs, lies off the SCLR. Along LBS Road, big malls like Phoenix Marketcity in Kurla and R City in Ghatkopar draw weekend crowds. Airoli, across the creek, hosts many IT parks for people who work in Navi Mumbai.

Both roads shape daily life in Thane West in clear ways. Here is what they bring to residents:

• Easy access to office hubs in Vikhroli, Powai, BKC and Navi Mumbai.
• Quick trips to big malls and hospitals along the eastern suburbs.
• A backup route when one road faces a jam or repair work.
• Strong bus links, since many city and state buses run on both roads.

This mix of speed and choice explains why Thane West is such a popular home market.

Picking the right road can save you a lot of time each day. This table shows the usual route for common trips from Thane West.

Once the Thane-Borivali Twin Tunnel opens, trips to the western suburbs should get much shorter. MMRDA aims to finish it around 2028.

Metro Line 4 runs along LBS Road and parts of the highway from Thane to Wadala. The work has narrowed the road in places, which has slowed traffic for some years. Once the full line opens, though, it should take many cars off the road.

The first Thane stretch, from Gaimukh to Cadbury Junction, cleared key safety checks in August 2026. MMRDA has targeted its opening around Diwali or by the end of 2026. The rest of the line, down to Wadala, is due to open in stages through 2027.

Both roads get busy at peak hours, so a little planning helps with these simple tips:

• Traffic flows south in the morning and north in the evening, so leave early.
• Use the highway for long trips and LBS Road for short, local trips.
• Check live traffic apps before you leave, since metro work can shift lanes.
• Try the train from Thane station for trips into the city during the morning rush hour.

Good road links are one of the main reasons buyers pick a home. Homes near the highway and Ghodbunder Road draw steady demand from people who work across Mumbai. As Metro Line 4 opens, this access should improve further. That can support both rents and resale values.

Prestige Falcon City Thane sits near Kolshet-Balkum Road, close to the Kapurbawdi junction on the highway. From here, you can join the highway within minutes and head to Mumbai or Navi Mumbai. You can see travel times on the location page and read our Thane West locality guide.