The cost of the ambitious Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project is set to rise by ₹247 crore due to a significant realignment of its twin tunnels. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to shift the alignment of these 4.7 km tunnels by 600 metres, a move driven by objections from local communities and environmental concerns.
Originally budgeted at ₹6,301 crore, the revised cost has sparked criticism from opposition figures, who question the financial prudence of the project’s modifications. The GMLR project, designed to enhance connectivity between Goregaon and Mulund, is a critical infrastructure initiative that will involve constructing twin tunnels beneath the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The realignment decision follows objections from tribal communities in Habale pada and Nagarmudi pada, who raised concerns about the impact on their livelihoods and local environment. In response, the BMC has opted to reposition the tunnel launch point 600 metres from its original location, a decision that has added an extra ₹247 crore to the project’s cost.
The revised plan includes moving forward with tunnel boring using a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), with construction scheduled to start in April 2025. The realignment and increased expenditure have drawn sharp criticism from political opponents. Ravi Raja, a former Congress corporator, has expressed concern over the escalated costs and questioned the credentials of the contractor involved. Despite these concerns, BMC officials maintain that the realignment will ensure minimal impact on local communities while facilitating the completion of the project by October 2028.
The Goregaon-Mulund Link Road’s cost escalation highlights the complexities of large-scale infrastructure projects in urban environments. The BMC’s decision to realign the GMLR tunnels addresses local objections but comes with a substantial financial impact. As the project progresses, the BMC will need to manage both the logistical challenges and public scrutiny to ensure the timely and successful completion of this critical infrastructure development.
