Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has agreed to relocate the Thane‑end portal of the Borivali‑Thane twin tunnel project by approximately 200 metres towards the Satya Shankar wall, moving it away from the densely populated Mulla Baug area, following intervention by the Deputy Chief Minister. The revised alignment, now deeper underground, is coupled with a covered conveyor for muck disposal to curb pollution.
Persistent civic activism in Thane’s Mulla Baug area, backed by technical inputs from the Project‑Affected People (PAP) Committee, led to a major policy shift in the Borivali‑Thane tunnel alignment. Over 10,000 residents raised concerns over air quality, noise pollution, and safety hazards caused by exposed construction portals and unregulated dumpers, prompting authorities to urgently review the tunnel’s exit point. Deputy Chief Minister and MMRDA head issued direct instructions following a high-level meeting attended by civic officials, engineers, lawmakers, and resident representatives. The directive mandates shifting the tunnel’s exit point approximately 200 metres eastwards, emerging near Ghodbunder Road adjacent to the boundary wall of Shree Satya Shankar housing society. This revision ensures that heavy construction activity remains well outside residential zones and beneath a five‑metre underground shield.
MMRDA officials are now conducting fresh topographical surveys and studying tunnelling methods such as cut‑and‑cover or box tunnelling to implement the realignment with minimal disruption. Officials acknowledge the move will inflate project costs, but assert this is a cost the public authority must absorb in the interest of resident well‑being. Complementing the portal shift, the authorities have instituted an enclosed conveyor belt system to transport excavated spoil six metres above ground to a designated staging area at Unipex. From there, debris-laden dumpers will transit via Ghodbunder Road to disposal sites in Palghar, effectively bypassing residential corridors and significantly lowering dust and traffic burden. Local residents have welcomed the change. A PAP Committee member said, “We are happy with the decisions… the conveyor system will greatly reduce pollution and traffic chaos,” marking a victory for grassroots-driven infrastructure planning. Many in the community have demanded the Deputy Chief Minister personally review progress—a request he has committed to honour.
However, civic watchdogs caution that alignment alterations and construction methodology must not be overly influenced by vocal pockets at the cost of overall project efficacy. They stress the need for transparent cost-benefit analysis, environmental safeguards, and timely project delivery to avoid unwanted ripple effects in Mumbai’s infrastructure agenda. From MMRDA’s perspective, this adjustment embodies a shift toward inclusive and environmentally conscious urban planning. By adapting major infrastructure to health, safety, and sustainability concerns, the city is inching closer to a model of zero‑carbon, equitable development. Environmental planners note that deep‑burial exit alignments, coupled with closed debris systems, effectively balance engineering goals with community protection.
That said, implementing the revised design across an 11.8‑km tunnel—originally sanctioned at approximately ₹16,600 crore—poses significant logistical challenges. Especially with the monsoon season approaching, executing underground continuation, conveyor installation, and land acquisition for staging areas requires meticulous coordination and oversight. MMRDA’s Commissioner has been tasked with appointing a nodal officer to fast-track land acquisition, supervise engineering deliverables, and maintain ongoing communication with the PAP Committee and local authorities. A six‑week plan is reportedly under preparation to define milestones and ensure accountability.
For residents, the revised tunnel plan offers hope for restored quality of life and reduced health risks—particularly at a time when rapid infrastructure expansion often sidelines local voices. In securing a safer alignment and cleaner muck management, the Mulla Baug community has demonstrated that urban planning must be people-centred to be sustainable.
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