The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has
approved the appointment of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) as the contractor for the
longest underground tunnel in the city that will connect Orange Gate and
Marine Drive.
The Eastern Freeway, connecting Mankhurd to Chembur Junction and Orange
Gate on P’Dimello Road, has significantly improved transportation to South
Mumbai. However, the increased traffic at Orange Gate has become a challenge
for the Mumbai Port Trust and the Main Post Office square on P’Dimello Marg.
To address these issues and create a seamless road-based transit system, the
MMRDA plans to construct a 9.23 km corridor that will link the Eastern
Freeway’s Orange Gate to the coastal road at Marine Drive.
The project includes a 6.51 km twin-tube underground tunnel, with each tunnel
accommodating 2+2 traffic lanes, 1+1 emergency lanes, and pedestrian
walkways. The project entails constructing a viaduct for vehicle access at the
Eastern Freeway Orange Gate, open cuts, and access roads on both sides of the
corridor. The left-side tunnel will pass beneath the seaway and resurface after B.
D. Som Chowk.
The construction of the underground tunnel is a significant step towards
improving connectivity between the east and west coasts of South Mumbai. It
will complement other major projects in the region, such as the Sewri-Worli
elevated connector, Mumbai Trans Harbor Link, Eastern Freeway, Mumbai
Coastal Road Project, and Bandra-Worli Sea Link.
