View source for Thane Creek

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Thane Creek
| native_name        = ठाणे खाडी
| native_name_lang   = mr
| other_name         = 
| nickname           = 
| settlement_type    = [[Creek (tidal)|Creek]]
| image_skyline      = ThaneCreek - August 2016.jpg
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = Thane Creek
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = 
| pushpin_map        = India Maharashtra
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|19.02|N|72.97|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = [[India]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Maharashtra]]
| subdivision_type2  = District, Metro
| subdivision_name2  = [[Thane district|Thane]], [[Mumbai]]
| established_title  = <!-- Established -->
| established_date   = 
| founder            = 
| named_for          = [[Thane]]
| government_type    = 
| governing_body     = 
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_rank          = 
| area_total_km2     = 
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 
| population_total   = 
| population_as_of   = 
| population_rank    = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = 
| population_footnotes = 
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Marathi language|Marathi]]
| timezone1          = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1        = +5:30
| postal_code_type   = <!-- [[Postal Index Number|PIN]] -->
| postal_code        = 
| registration_plate = 
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
}}
{{Designation list
| designation1 = Ramsar
| designation1_offname = Thane Creek
| designation1_date = 13 April 2022
| designation1_number = 2490<ref name="RSIS">{{Cite web|title=Thane Creek|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/2490|access-date=1 November 2022}}</ref>}}

'''Thane Creek''', previously '''Thana Creek''', is an [[estuary]] of the [[Arabian Sea]] and one of the two main [[distributary|distributaries]] of the [[Ulhas River]], in [[Konkan division]] of Maharashtra, India.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/elevated-churchgatevirar-corridor-still-stuck/1017250/0 |title=Elevated Churchgate-Virar corridor still stuck - Indian Express |website=www.indianexpress.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018234731/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/elevated-churchgatevirar-corridor-still-stuck/1017250/0 |archive-date=2012-10-18}}</ref> The Ulhas splits at the northeast corner of Salsette island into its two main distributaries, the other one being the [[Vasai Creek]], both of which empty into the Arabian Sea. The creek forms the eastern boundary of [[Salsette island]] and separates the island from [[mainland]] of [[Konkan]]. It gets its name from the city of [[Thane]], previously Thana, located on eastern banks of the creek.

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. The area has been designated as a protected [[Ramsar site]] since 2022.<ref name="RSIS"/>

== Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary ==
[[File:Lesser Flamingo Greater Flamingo in Mumbai (Bombay).jpg|left|thumb|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"(TCFS).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Deshpande |first=A |date=2015-08-08 |title=Mumbai gets a flamingo sanctuary |language=en |newspaper=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/mumbai-gets-a-flamingo-sanctuary/article7513079.ece |url-status=live |access-date=2015-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113212521/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/mumbai-gets-a-flamingo-sanctuary/article7513079.ece |archive-date=13 January 2023 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> It is Maharashtra's second notified marine sanctuary after the Malvan Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary was notified by Govt. Gazette on 6 August 2015.

The TCFS lies on the [[Central Asian Flyway]] of the Asia Pacific Global Migratory Flyway.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Assainar |first=Raina |date=14 July 2024 |title=Navi Mumbai: State Government Forms Committee To Protect Nerul Flamingos And Mangrove Forests |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/amp/mumbai/navi-mumbai-state-government-forms-committee-to-protect-nerul-flamingos-and-mangrove-forests |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718101248/https://www.freepressjournal.in/amp/mumbai/navi-mumbai-state-government-forms-committee-to-protect-nerul-flamingos-and-mangrove-forests |archive-date=18 July 2024 |access-date=23 July 2024 |website=The Free Press Journal}}</ref> In 2022, the teams of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) counted more than 130,000 flamingoes in Thane creek. The [[greater flamingo]] and [[lesser flamingo]] are the two flamingo species present in the sanctuary.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 30, 2022 |title=More than 130,000 flamingoes visited Thane creek this year: Dept |website=Hindustan Times |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/as-per-bnhs-wildlife-research-organisation-counting-1-30l-flamingoes-sighted-in-thane-creek-this-year-the-most-in-last-5-years-101651326496856.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726102709/https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/as-per-bnhs-wildlife-research-organisation-counting-1-30l-flamingoes-sighted-in-thane-creek-this-year-the-most-in-last-5-years-101651326496856.html |archive-date=26 July 2022}}</ref> Alongside the flamingoes, 167 species of birds and small mammals like [[golden jackal]]s are also present.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 August 2022 |title=Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary secures recognition as Ramsar site |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/thane-creek-flamingo-sanctuary-secures-recognition-as-ramsar-site-8088694/lite/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407225805/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/thane-creek-flamingo-sanctuary-secures-recognition-as-ramsar-site-8088694/lite/ |archive-date=7 April 2023 |access-date=8 April 2023 |website=The Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jadhav |first=R |date=4 April 2023 |title=Thane: Golden jackals spotted at flamingo sanctuary |url=https://www.mid-day.com/amp/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/thane-golden-jackals-spotted-at-flamingo-sanctuary-23279034 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405021001/https://www.mid-day.com/amp/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/thane-golden-jackals-spotted-at-flamingo-sanctuary-23279034 |archive-date=5 April 2023 |access-date=8 April 2023 |website=Mid-Day}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Naik |first=Y |date=30 November 2022 |title=Study launched on golden jackals in city’s mangrove patches |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/study-launched-on-golden-jackals-in-city-s-mangrove-patches-101669832165683-amp.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207145417/https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/study-launched-on-golden-jackals-in-city-s-mangrove-patches-101669832165683-amp.html |archive-date=7 December 2022 |access-date=8 April 2023 |website=Hindustan Times}}</ref>

The total area of the TCFS is {{convert|1690|ha|km2|order=flip}} [which includes {{convert|896|ha|km2|order=flip}} of [[mangrove]] forests and {{convert|794|ha|km2|order=flip}} of water body].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Koshy |first=J |date=6 February 2019 |title=Bullet train gets green light via flamingo haven, national park |work=The Hindu Newspaper |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/bullet-train-gets-green-light-via-flamingo-haven-national-park/article26188009.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003001315/https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/bullet-train-gets-green-light-via-flamingo-haven-national-park/article26188009.ece |archive-date=3 October 2021}}</ref>

== Islands ==

Numerous islands are located in Thane Creek such as [[Elephanta Island]], [[Butcher Island]] and an unnamed island between Thane and Kalwa.

== Railway bridges==

{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| header            = Tanna railway viaducts
| image1            = Tanna Village and Smaller Viaduct (12671597053).jpg
| image2            = Tanna Railway Viaduct (9142699593).jpg
| footer            = The smaller railway viaduct (top) and the longer railway viaduct (bottom) near Tanna (present day Thane) in 1855.
}}

Thane railway bridge or Thane railway viaduct is the oldest rail bridge constructed on this creek. The bridge lies between {{rws|Thane}} and Parsik tunnel, Kalwa. It has two sections, as there is an island in middle, a smaller section built of stones and concrete and a longer section built of stone and concrete but with a steel girder in middle. The first railway bridges in the country, they were built over the Thane creek when the Mumbai-Thane line was extended to Kalyan in May 1854. A report from Bombay Times elaborately describing the route for an account of a first trial journey of 18 November 1852 between Bombay and Tannah (before the official opening on 16 April 1853) also gave details on the Tannah-Callian (today, [[Kalyan]]) section, then under construction. It said that the railway [route] bent quickly towards 'the viaduct' on entering the village. This refers to the two old Thane creek bridges, that spanned the creek on the original line.

A new parallel railway bridge, also with two sections, has been constructed for [[local trains]] ,<ref>[http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-158-years-on-central-railway-bridges-vital-gap-1532413 158 years on, central railway bridges vital gap]</ref> on the [[Harbour line (Mumbai Suburban Railway)|harbour line]] of Mumbai suburban railway.

Another railway bridge connecting [[Mankhurd]] and [[Vashi]] was opened later.

== Road bridges ==

There are numerous road bridges over Thane Creek.

The first [[Kalwa Bridge]] ({{coord|19.19682|72.98553|format=dms|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline|name=Kalwa Bridge (first)}}) was built in 1863 and was first road bridge across Thane creek. The {{cvt|350|m}} long bridge has ten pillars and ten arches. Following a structural audit conducted on the bridge in 2010, it was deemed unsafe for use by heavy vehicles, and only two and three-wheelers were permitted to use the bridge. According to officials the bridge's structure had suffered damage from a collision with a barge in 2006. The bridge was closed to all motor vehicle traffic from midnight on 3 August 2016, and only pedestrians were permitted to use the bridge. The bridge will not be demolished as it is classified as a heritage structure.<ref>{{cite web|date=4 August 2016|title=After Mahad tragedy, authorities shut down 153-year-old bridge in Thane|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/after-mahad-tragedy-authorities-shut-down-153-year-old-bridge-in-thane/story-fPSmJoqWySPHDTWdYCIuqN.html|access-date=26 January 2022|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Badgeri|first=Manoj|title=Kalwa bridge shut for structural audit|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thane/kalwa-bridge-shut-for-structural-audit/articleshow/53550588.cms|access-date=2022-01-26|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref name="BridgeClose">{{Cite web|title=Thane police shut 153-year-old Kalwa bridge|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-thane-police-shut-153-year-old-kalwa-bridge-2241221|access-date=2022-01-26|website=DNA India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-08-05|title=Mahad bridge tragedy: Now, 153-year-old Kalwa bridge in Thane shut down by authorities|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/mahad-bridge-tragedy-now-153-year-old-kalwa-bridge-in-thane-shut-down-by-authorities-2937176.html|access-date=2022-01-26|website=Firstpost|language=en}}</ref>

The second Kalwa Bridge was opened in 1995. The third Kalwa Bridge was partially opened to traffic on 13 November 2022, and was fully opened on 10 March 2023.

[[Airoli bridge]] connects [[Mulund]] and [[Airoli]]. It was opened in 1999.

[[Vashi Bridge]] was built in 1973 and connected [[Mankhurd]] and [[Vashi]]. This old bridge has been closed to traffic and been replaced by a newer bridge which was opened in 1997. A third bridge is currently under construction.

[[Mumbai Trans Harbour Link]] connects [[Sewri]] and [[Chirle]]. It was opened in 2024.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Thane Creek}}
* http://www.mumbai77.com/city/4075/attractions/thane-creek-mudflats-flamingo-sanctuary/
* http://asc-india.org/seismi/seis-maharashtra.htm

{{Mumbai topics}}
{{Ramsar sites in India}}

[[Category:Estuaries of Mumbai]]
[[Category:Geography of Thane district]]
[[Category:Ramsar sites in India]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of India]]