Mumbai to get 70-km tunnel network to beat traffic blues

Mumbai city

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has proposed an ambitious plan to build a 70-kilometre network of tunnels across the city to decongest the city’s packed roads.

The tunnel network will be developed in three phases. MMRDA is currently in the process of hiring a consultant to prepare a techno-economic feasibility report and a detailed project report (DPR) for the first phase. The report will determine the project’s route alignment, cost estimates, and required environmental and technical clearances.

An MMRDA official said the tunnels will help divert a large portion of through-traffic underground. “The idea is to take vehicles that don’t need to stop within the city below ground, easing congestion on major roads,” the official was quoted by The Print as saying.

Phase 1: Linking coastal road to BKC and airport

The first phase, approximately 16 kms long, will connect the southern end of the coastal road (Marine Drive-Worli) to Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and Terminal 2 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

The same corridor will also provide direct access to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train station planned at BKC. This phase will be taken up for immediate implementation once the consultant’s report is ready.

Phase 2: East-west connection through city’s arteries

In the second phase, MMRDA plans to link the Eastern Express Highway and the Western Express Highway through a 10-km east-west tunnel. This corridor will allow vehicles to bypass surface traffic between Mumbai’s eastern and western suburbs and offer additional connectivity to the airport.

Phase 3: North-south underground corridor

The third phase, and the longest of the three, will be a 44-km north-south underground corridor spanning the entire length of Mumbai. This stretch is expected to facilitate smoother freight and passenger movement from the southern tip to the northern suburbs without disturbing surface-level traffic.

Apart from this proposed 70-km network, MMRDA is also working on two major tunnel projects.

The 9-km Orange Gate-Marine Drive tunnel will connect the Eastern Freeway directly to the coastal road, helping decongest P D’Mello Road. It is expected to be completed by 2028-29.

Another key project is the 11.85-km Thane-Borivali twin tunnel, passing under the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which will cut travel time between the two points from over an hour to just 15-20 minutes. It is slated for completion by 2028.