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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 7:24:18 pm

Shilphata road widening cleared

Mumbai: The long-pending widening and concretisation of the Kalyan-Shilphata Road has cleared a major hurdle, with the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) taking a decision to provide compensation of around Rs 138 crore to landowners affected by the project. The decision is expected to pave the way for the resumption of stalled work on the crucial road, which connects Kalyan-Dombivli with Thane and Navi Mumbai and serves as an important link for daily commuters and...

Shilphata road widening cleared

Mumbai: The long-pending widening and concretisation of the Kalyan-Shilphata Road has cleared a major hurdle, with the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) taking a decision to provide compensation of around Rs 138 crore to landowners affected by the project. The decision is expected to pave the way for the resumption of stalled work on the crucial road, which connects Kalyan-Dombivli with Thane and Navi Mumbai and serves as an important link for daily commuters and commercial traffic. The widening project had been delayed for several years because of disputes over land acquisition and compensation. Several affected landowners had opposed the terms of compensation for land acquired for the project, resulting in work remaining incomplete at various stretches. The issue was taken up in the presence of Kalyan Lok Sabha MP Dr Shrikant Shinde. Following discussions, MSRDC Vice Chairman and Managing Director Anilkumar Gaikwad handed over letters regarding compensation to the affected landowners. The MSRDC has approved approximately Rs 138 crore as compensation for the land acquired for the road project. The decision is significant as the Kalyan-Shilphata Road is one of the region’s busiest arterial routes. Incomplete widening work and bottlenecks along the road have been contributing to severe traffic congestion, particularly around Kalyan, Dombivli, Ambernath and Badlapur, affecting motorists travelling towards Thane, Navi Mumbai and Mumbai. Dr Shinde and local people’s representatives had been following up on the issue of compensation with the authorities. The latest decision is expected to facilitate the acquisition of the remaining land required for the project and enable MSRDC to accelerate the pending civil works. According to officials and local representatives, once the compensation-related issues are resolved, work on widening and concretisation can progress at a faster pace. Completion of the project is expected to significantly improve traffic movement along the corridor and reduce congestion at key junctions. The improved road will also provide better connectivity to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and is expected to complement the upcoming Metro Line 12 and Metro Line 12A projects. The development of supporting infrastructure along the corridor is expected to further strengthen connectivity between Kalyan-Dombivli, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Mumbai. The project had faced opposition from farmers and landowners because of disagreements over compensation for land acquired for road construction. With the MSRDC now approving the compensation package, officials expect the principal obstacle to the project to be removed. Local residents and commuters have long demanded completion of the widening work, pointing out that unfinished stretches, narrow sections and bottlenecks have resulted in persistent traffic snarls. The latest decision is therefore being viewed as an important step towards completing the long-awaited Kalyan-Shilphata Road upgrade and easing pressure on the region’s road network.

Rewriting the Meaning of Old Age

Growing older isn’t slowing down—it’s choosing joy, peace, and what truly matters.

AI generated image
AI generated image

Growing older doesn’t mean slowing down; it means moving differently—living for your own joy, valuing peace over opinions, and choosing quality over quantity.


Old age becomes beautiful when you decide: I will not suffer. I will not depend. I will not stop living. I will celebrate every day. As we grow older, we all need to prioritise the list.


Emotional independence

Your first pillar of graceful living. Detach without becoming cold. Emotional independence isn’t cutting people off; it’s not being shaken by their moods or silences and never tying your happiness to who calls or remembers you.


Stop expecting and start enjoying—expectations hurt; acceptance brings peace. Releasing expectations from children, relatives, or society makes you feel lighter and freer.


Value your self-worth. Age doesn’t reduce your value; your experience, character, love, and resilience make you richer than ever.


Build a soft heart and a strong spine. Be warm and kind, yet firm about your boundaries. Say 'yes' with love and 'no' with confidence.


Physical independence

Staying strong, mobile, and capable. Ageing gracefully requires strength and mobility. Make daily movement non-negotiable: brisk walking or cycling, light stretching or yoga for flexibility, and gentle strength training for bones and muscles.


Bio-friendly eating

Bio-friendly eating supports healthy ageing. Choose nourishing foods—protein from dal, chana, rajma, paneer, tofu, and sprouts; calcium from curd, sesame seeds, and ragi; iron from spinach, beetroot, and dates; and gut-friendly fermented foods. Simplicity nourishes. Discipline protects.


Sleep is like a ritual.

Treat sleep as a ritual. Peaceful ageing comes with deep, restorative rest—avoid screens at night, sip warm water, and unwind with calming music or a good book.


Financial independence

Your Freedom, Your Backbone. Money in old age is about dignity, not luxury. Financial independence means never feeling obligated, dependent, or afraid. Spend wisely—choose comfort, convenience, and health, never guilt. Follow a simple monthly plan: essentials, healthcare, an emergency fund, a small pleasures fund, and long-term savings. Never feel guilty about spending on yourself—you’ve earned it.


Social independence

This includes choosing your circle consciously. In this phase of life, you don’t need a large crowd—just a few kind, uplifting people. Keep distance from those who drain your energy through complaint, criticism, or negativity. Choose friends who laugh easily, because laughter keeps the soul young. Stay connected, but not entangled, and protect your emotional rhythm.


Mental independence

Keep Your Mind Sharp and Curious. Your brain thrives on curiosity. Learn something every day—new hobbies, online courses, music, languages, or creative pursuits like art or gardening. Read regularly and sit quietly by yourself for 10 minutes daily to build inner strength. Stay mentally agile by understanding technology, digital payments, and apps; today, digital independence is true self-reliance.


Purposeful independence

Waking up with meaning. Retirement or age should never diminish your sense of purpose. Purpose gives each day meaning—whether through teaching, volunteering, creative work, writing, helping a neighbour, or caring for plants or animals. Small purposes are enough; a life without purpose feels heavy.


Emotional Luxury

Give Yourself Permission to Enjoy. Old age should not be about sacrifice but enjoyment. Give yourself permission to savour simple pleasures—flowers, favourite snacks, good clothes, a beautiful space, short trips, and celebrations. Pamper yourself occasionally, because joy is also a form of health.


Freedom from the past

Old age becomes golden when you release old wounds. Forgive not because others deserve it, but because you deserve peace. Let go of guilt, regrets, and what-ifs; the heart feels lighter, the face calmer, and the mind clearer.


Spiritual independence

Anchor yourself in inner peace. Spirituality in this phase of life is not about rituals but about silence, gratitude, and inner stability. Begin with gratitude, practise gentle breathing or meditation, and find comfort in music or spiritual reading. These habits create a calm inner anchor.


Depend on yourself.

This does not mean loneliness, but self-sufficiency. Be able to manage your finances, move independently, make your own decisions, keep your routine, and stay emotionally steady even when others disappoint you. Live happily without seeking approval—this is true independence and the real beauty of old age.


Celebrate your age

Remember—you have survived every challenge. You are stronger, wiser, and clearer about what truly matters. Choose peace over chaos and joy over fear, and celebrate who you have become.


Your golden age

When emotional strength, financial planning, physical health, and a joyful mindset come together, old age becomes graceful, peaceful, free, and deeply meaningful. You are not nearing the end but entering a rich phase of life where pressure is less, wisdom greater, clarity sharper, and beauty comes from within.

Live with dignity. Live with style. Live with strength. Live with joy!

 

 (The writer is a tutor based in Thane. Views personal.)


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