The Goregaon-Mulund Link Road project has entered a faster construction phase after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation began excavation with its second tunnel boring machine beneath Sanjay Gandhi National Park on November 7, allowing work on both underground tunnels to proceed simultaneously.
The machine, named Vihar, started digging after successfully completing its Site Acceptance Test, according to an official statement. The first machine, Tulshi, has already excavated more than 270 metres since beginning operations on August 17 and is moving towards Mulund at an average speed of about six metres a day.
The BMC said excavation speeds for Tulshi will gradually be increased to 10 metres a day, depending on construction progress. With Vihar now operational, both machines will begin from the Goregaon end and advance towards Amar Nagar in Mulund West.
The underground section is part of Phase 3B of the 12.20-kilometre GMLR project, which is intended to connect Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari in Goregaon East with Amar Nagar. The two tunnels will pass beneath Sanjay Gandhi National Park and are expected to provide a direct road connection between Mumbai’s western and eastern suburbs.
Each tunnel will include three traffic lanes, creating six lanes of underground connectivity in total. The tunnel-bored portion of each structure will measure 5,340 metres, while the remaining 1,335 metres will consist of box tunnels, entry and exit ramps, and shafts. The tunnels will have an internal diameter of 13 metres.
Vihar uses Single Shield Earth Pressure Balance technology, similar to Tulshi. Its cutter head has a diameter of 14.49 metres, while the complete machine is 83 metres long. This includes a 22-metre shield section and a 61-metre, three-storey backup gantry.
The Earth Pressure Balance system is designed to regulate soil pressure at the excavation face. The BMC said this helps maintain ground stability and supports controlled construction beneath the national park. During the Site Acceptance Test, the machine’s mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and control systems were examined against prescribed technical standards. Its equipment and safety systems were also tested before excavation began.
The project also includes demolition and rehabilitation work at the Mulund end, where a retrieval shaft and ramps are being built. Of the 743 structures affected by the proposed work, 612 have been demolished, the BMC said. The remaining 131 structures are expected to be demolished by the end of December 2026 or early January 2027.
Families affected by the demolition are to be rehabilitated in buildings being constructed at Kanjurmarg. The BMC said construction of the rehabilitation buildings is in its final stages.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Projects Abhijit Bangar has directed the agencies involved to review construction progress, machinery availability, technical requirements and manpower needs regularly. Additional technical personnel and workers are to be deployed wherever required.
Bangar also instructed contractors to maintain worker and engineer safety, provide protective equipment and implement preventive measures during excavation. The BMC has further emphasised the proper transportation and disposal of excavated material, or muck, along with cleanliness around construction sites. The civic body has set February 2029 as the target for completing the GMLR project.
