The process of placing one girder takes about 20 minutes and in the hours that followed six girders were placed in position, the highest number in a night so far. “Due to traffic movement and lack of space for manoeuvring the big machines, the work is carried out only during night. Till yesterday, we were erecting four girders a night. We will increase the pace of work to eight girders,” said K D Lala, chief engineer of Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC).

The civic body has expedited the girder work as once it is completed, the remaining work will not be hindered by the traffic movement. Of the 229 major girders, 138 has been placed and authorities expect the task to be completed in a fortnight.

If all goes according to plan, the first phase of the project would be open to public by the end of March. The scale and scope of the SATIS project outside the Thane railway station is unmatched as it boasts an elevated deck, measuring 15,000 sq ft, for bus stops. Earlier, the bus stops at Thane station had space for accommodating only eight buses.