The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken a significant step forward on the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project by approving a key realignment of its twin tunnels under the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP). The decision to shift the tunnels 600 metres away from their original location near Habale Pada was driven by concerns raised by tribal communities about the potential impact on their lands and livelihoods.
The revised alignment ensures that tribal farmlands in Film City, Goregaon East, remain unaffected. However, this change has escalated the overall project cost by ₹250 crore, bringing the total estimate to ₹6,551 crore. The additional cost has received administrative approval, ensuring that the project stays on track despite the revisions. Construction of the tunnels is expected to commence in March 2025, with the BMC planning to deploy an imported tunnel boring machine from China for excavation. The twin tunnels, spanning 4.7 kilometres, are targeted for completion by October 2028. To ensure safety and compliance, the BMC has engaged Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) to conduct a comprehensive third-party safety audit of the project.
The GMLR aims to significantly improve connectivity between Mumbai’s eastern and western suburbs, linking the Eastern Express Highway in Mulund to the Western Express Highway in Goregaon. Spanning 12.2 kilometres, the project includes a 4.7-kilometre twin-tunnel segment. Once operational, the GMLR is expected to reduce travel time between Mulund and Goregaon from the current 1.25 hours to a mere 25 minutes. This infrastructure initiative is poised to enhance commuter convenience and ease traffic congestion, boosting connectivity in the city. The GMLR project, with its revised alignment, exemplifies the BMC’s commitment to sustainable development by addressing socio-environmental concerns while advancing infrastructure progress.
