Thane Creek is an inlet in the shoreline of the Arabian Sea that isolates the city ofMumbai from the Indian mainland. It comprises the area between Mumbra Retibunder and the Mankhurd-Vashi Bridge. The creek is divided into two parts. The first part lies between Ghodbunder and Thane, a section from where the Ulhas river flows from the north of Mumbai Island to meet the Arabian Sea on the west. The second part of the waterway lies between the city of Thane and the Arabian Sea at Trombay / Uran, before the Gharapuri islands. Thane creek has been formed due to seismic fault lying below it which runs from Uran to Thane In antiquity, Thane served as the capital of the Sheelahar kingdom, and was a large functional port for trade with the Arabian peninsula, along with other ports, such as Ghodbunder and Nagla Bunder. The region of the Thane Creek has been recognized as an Important Bird Area by the Bombay Natural History Society, as it is home to various avian species. In particular, it harbors populations of flamingos and several other migratory and wading birds.
Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary
The Maharashtra Government has declared the area along the western bank of the Thane Creek as the "Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary". It will be Maharashtra's second marine sanctuary after Malvan sanctuary. The sanctuary was notified in Govt. Gazette on 6 August 2015. Total Area of TCF sanctuary is 1,690 hectares (896 hectares of mangrove forests and 794 hectares of a water body.
Thane road bridge is the oldest bridge built over this creek. This bridge connects Thane and Kalwa. The old road bridge is no longer in use and has been superseded by the new parallel bridge.
Thane railway bridge or Thane railway viaduct is the oldest rail bridge constructed on this creek. The bridge lies between and Parsik tunnel, Kalwa. It has two sections, a smaller section built of stones and concrete and a longer section built of stone and concrete but with a steel girder in middle. New parallel railway bridge, also with two sections, is constructed for fast local trains.
Vashi bridges
Vashi road bridge connects two sister cities of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. This bridge is a very important bridge as it carries heavy traffic between Mumbai and Pune. Being one of the busiest routes in India, the bridge provides a shorter route to Pune. A parallel trans-harbour road link is planned to connect Mumbai's two ports as well as to reduce rush on this bridge. A parallel railway bridge built lies on the harbour line of Mumbai suburban railway.
