Around Mumbai in 1 hour: 7 Ring Roads that will minimise travel time in Maximum City by 2029

The project’s total cost, including all new roads, slum redevelopment, and public transport improvements, is projected to be Rs 3 lakh crore.

Mumbai is on course for an infrastructure transformation as a host of ring road projects are set to take off from the drawing board to give the Maximum City a complete facelift in the next five years.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has laid out an ambitious masterplan that will reshape the city’s connectivity through a vast network of roads, bridges, tunnels, and flyovers stretching across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), says an assessment report by The Indian Express. Spanning from the Gujarat border near Vadodara in the north to Alibaug in the south, this extensive project aims to ease the notorious traffic bottleneck that has choked the city by 2029.

The Ring Road plan will introduce around 90.18 kilometres of additional road networks, connecting the city of seven islands with the mainland and beyond, adds the report. At an estimated cost of Rs 58,517 crore, these roads will connect with the existing and upcoming Metro systems, bridges, and flyovers, making travel across Mumbai faster and smoother. The project, including the new roads, slum redevelopment, and public transport improvements, is estimated to cost around Rs 3 lakh crore.

One of the most crucial aspects of the plan is its focus on the East-West connectivity, a long-standing challenge for Mumbaikars. The infra facelift is expected to boost Mumbai's economic activity, as a recent report by Niti Aayog projects that the city's GDP will more than double from $140 billion to $300 billion by 2030.

Let's take a look at the key ring roads to come up and their likely impact...

First Ring Road

This Ring Road starts at Nariman Point along the Mumbai Coastal Road and moves towards the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, connecting with the Sewri-Worli Connector and passes through the Eastern Freeway and the upcoming Orange Gate Tunnel, before it loops back to Nariman Point. This will provide a smooth, uninterrupted travel around South Mumbai.

Mumbai Coastal Road: 6.7km, operational
Sewri-Worli Connector: 4.5km, expected by December 2025
Orange Gate Tunnel: 9.5km, tender awarded

Second Ring Road

Also starting at Nariman Point, it passes through the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and Western Express Highway, connecting key junctions like Santacruz, Chembur, and the Eastern Freeway before closing the loop back at Nariman Point through the Coastal Road.

Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR): 6.4km, operational
Eastern Freeway and upcoming Orange Gate Tunnel

Third Ring Road

This too follows a similar route, connecting Nariman Point with the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR), extending to the Powai-Kanjurmarg junction. It then merges with the Eastern Freeway and heads back through the Orange Gate Tunnel.

JVLR to Kanjurmarg: open to traffic
Eastern Freeway Extension: 12.96km, work to start soon

Fourth Ring Road

It connects Nariman Point to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and extends further north to the Versova-Bandra Sea Link and Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR), creating a loop through Thane and back to South Mumbai.

GMLR: 12.2km, foundation laid in 2024
Versova-Dahisar-Bhayander Link Road: 18.5km

Fifth Ring Road

This route is designed for extensive travel, linking Nariman Point to the Versova-Dahisar Link Road, then further to Thane and Bhayander through the Ghodbunder Tunnel and Fountain Hotel Connector. It will improve connectivity between Mumbai and its northern suburbs.

Ghodbunder-Gaimukh Tunnel: 5.5km, in planning
Elevated road to Bhayander Jetty

Sixth Outer Ring Road

This road connects Mumbai to the multi-modal Alibaug-Virar Corridor, providing smoother access between Alibaug, Thane and Virar. The inclusion of a coastal road through Thane will further enhance this link.

Alibaug-Virar Corridor: 100km, in land acquisition stage
Thane Coastal Road Phase 1: 13.45km, tender awarded

Seventh Outer Ring Road

Perhaps the most extensive of all, this Ring Road starts at Nariman Point, travels along the Versova-Bhayander Link Road, and connects with the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway, eventually linking to the Atal Setu via the JNPT port road. It loops back through the Orange Gate Tunnel, creating a vital commercial freight route.

Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway: 379km, under construction
Atal Setu: 21.8km, opened in 2024

MMRDA Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee told The Indian Express that the goal is to cut travel time across the city to under an hour. These new roads, tunnels, and highways will not only ease congestion but also serve as a catalyst for economic growth. With the collaboration of MMRDA, BMC, and MSRDC, the future of Mumbai’s transportation looks promising, with faster commutes, better connectivity, and smoother logistics on the horizon.