Thane, Maharashtra: The ambitious ₹18,838-crore Thane-Borivali twin-tube tunnel project — touted to be Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s (MMR) biggest leap in decongesting east-west road traffic — has hit a local roadblock.
Residents of Mulla Baug in Thane’s Manpada area have raised strong objections to the alleged last-minute change in tunnel alignment, citing ecological degradation, compromised road safety, and insufficient stakeholder consultation.
A closed-door meeting on Saturday, facilitated by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and attended by Thane MP Naresh Mhaske and city police officials, was convened after residents held a silent protest demanding redressal. Despite assurances, residents claim the dialogue did not yield concrete solutions and left their primary concerns unaddressed. At the heart of the protest lies the revision of the tunnel’s exit route, which residents claim will now open into their narrow residential lanes, risking congestion, reduced liveability, and loss of long-standing green belts. Locals, while reiterating their support for the infrastructure project, are demanding that the tunnel be extended further to the Uni Abex Company grounds, well beyond the crowded society limits. The demand also includes relocating the proposed toll plaza and an immediate halt to tree trimming activities until their concerns are formally addressed. Residents from prominent housing societies including Neelkanth Greens, Cosmos, Veroton, and Neelkanth Woods participated in the meeting, expressing distress over the dust, noise, and environmental impact of the ongoing excavation work. Community representatives also flagged potential violations of pollution norms by the contractor and issued a stern warning of legal action should environmental safeguards continue to be ignored.
A spokesperson for MMRDA responded by confirming that a 92-metre extension to the tunnel has already been approved based on preliminary feedback, and that compensatory afforestation plans are underway. “We have lost 2,500 metres of green cover, but we will regenerate 5,300 metres above the tunnel in two phases. We invite the societies to form official committees so their suggestions can be evaluated and integrated technically,” the official said. However, residents remain unconvinced. “Our societies are not against the project. We understand its significance, but it should not come at the cost of our environment and quality of life,” said one resident, stressing that no clear commitments were made regarding future public hearings or a revised environmental plan. The 11-kilometre tunnel, expected to be completed by mid-2028, will slash travel time between Thane’s Manpada and Borivali’s Magathane from up to 90 minutes to just 12–15 minutes. As part of the broader urban mobility vision, the project aims to decongest Ghodbunder Road, which currently sees heavy commuter and cargo traffic.
Yet, as MMRDA steers one of the country’s most significant urban tunnelling efforts under the ecologically sensitive Sanjay Gandhi National Park, the project finds itself at the intersection of progress and preservation. For a city struggling to balance rapid urbanisation with environmental resilience, how this dispute unfolds could set a precedent for citizen engagement in mega infrastructure development.
Also read: https://urbanacres.in/arunachal-builds-hydropower-plants-and-transmission-network-to-boost-clean-energy/
Thane Borivali Tunnel Tree Felling Sparks Protest as Residents Demand Rethink Plan
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