Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the commencement of two major underground twin tunnel projects in Mumbai, marking a significant milestone in the city’s infrastructural evolution. The “bhoomi poojan” ceremony for these projects will be conducted on Saturday, initiating construction activities that promise to transform Mumbai’s connectivity and reduce congestion.
The first of these projects is the underground twin tunnel segment of the ambitious Goregaon Mulund Link Road (GMLR), overseen by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Estimated at a cost of ₹6,300 crore, the GMLR is poised to be a game-changer for Mumbai’s transport landscape. This 12.2 km road will feature twin tunnels, each extending 4.7 km, designed to traverse beneath the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) and the Aarey Forest. The depth of these tunnels will range from 20 to 220 meters, contingent on the varied topography and geological conditions of the region. Advanced Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) will be employed to construct these tunnels, ensuring precision and efficiency. The tunnels will be equipped with state-of-the-art ventilation and lighting systems, coupled with electric surveillance to enhance safety. With a finishing diameter of 13 to 15 meters, these tunnels will be the largest cylindrical tunnels in India, surpassing the current record held by the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP) with a diameter of 12 meters.
The GMLR tunnel will establish a crucial link between Film City in the Aarey Forest and Khindi Pada in Bhandup, significantly easing traffic flow between the western and eastern suburbs. The work order, issued in July last year to NCC Limited and J Kumar Infra, targets a completion deadline of 2028. The second project is the Thane-Borivali Twin Tunnel, a venture spearheaded by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) at an estimated cost of ₹19,257 crore. These 11.8 km tunnels will also run beneath the SGNP, connecting Borivali in the western suburbs to Thane in the east. This project aims to reduce the current 23 km commute between these locations to just 11 km, effectively halving travel distance and time.
Constructed in two phases, the first phase of the Thane-Borivali tunnels will cost ₹7,178 crore, while the second phase will require ₹5,879 crore. Each tunnel will feature two vehicular carriageways with a diameter of 12.2 meters. Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) was awarded the project last year, with a projected completion timeline of four years. These projects underscore Mumbai’s commitment to enhancing its urban infrastructure, promising to deliver substantial improvements in commuting efficiency and urban mobility. By alleviating traffic congestion and reducing travel times, these tunnels are set to significantly benefit the daily lives of Mumbai’s residents and bolster the city’s economic dynamism.
