Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the commencement of Mumbai’s ambitious Thane-Borivali Twin Tunnel project on July 13, 2024, marking a significant leap in the city’s infrastructure development plans. The monumental initiative, costing INR 16,600 crore, is part of a larger INR 29,000 crore blueprint aimed at enhancing Mumbai’s connectivity and alleviating urban traffic congestion.
Spanning 11.8 kilometres, the Thane-Borivali Twin Tunnel is slated to become India’s longest and most expansive urban tunnel system upon completion. It promises to revolutionize east-west suburban travel by providing a direct underground link from Thane to Borivali, significantly reducing travel time from over an hour to a mere 12 minutes. The tunnel’s construction will trim the existing travel distance by 12 kilometres, easing pressure on arterial routes such as Ghodbundar Road and the Western Express Highway.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has assured the public that the tunnel’s construction will be environmentally sound, posing no threat to the nearby Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Employing India’s longest tunnel-boring machine, capable of excavating up to 10.25 kilometres, the project includes safety features such as cross passages every 300 metres to ensure operational integrity and upkeep. One of the project’s standout environmental benefits is its anticipated reduction in carbon emissions by approximately 150,000 metric tonnes annually, aligning with global sustainability goals.
The Thane-Borivali Twin Tunnel is not only a feat of engineering but also a strategic urban planning solution designed to accommodate Mumbai’s burgeoning population and commercial growth. By enhancing suburban connectivity through a state-of-the-art transport corridor, the project aims to boost economic productivity and improve overall quality of life for residents. As Mumbai embraces this transformative infrastructure development, stakeholders anticipate a paradigm shift in urban mobility, setting a new benchmark for metropolitan transportation initiatives across India.
