Going Deep: Inside the ₹15,738-Crore Plan to Tunnel Under SGNP

Mumbai is set to build its longest road tunnel beneath the Sanjay Gandhi National Park as part of the Goregaon–Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project, marking a major step toward improving east–west connectivity in the city.

Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2026, with around 700 workers, engineers, and consultants undertaking continuous excavation of the 6.65 km twin tunnel— the central component of the ₹15,738-crore corridor. The tunnel will connect Film City in Goregaon to Khindipada in Mulund, significantly reducing travel time between the two suburbs from 60–90 minutes to under 20 minutes.

Excavation will be carried out using two advanced Japanese tunnel boring machines (TBMs) equipped with 13-metre diameter cutter heads. These machines will operate at depths ranging from 20 to 160 metres beneath forested terrain and water bodies, helping to minimise environmental impact. Each tunnel will feature three traffic lanes along with modern safety systems, including CCTV surveillance, LED lighting, and fire suppression mechanisms.

The GMLR project is part of a broader infrastructure network comprising flyovers, bridges, and link roads that will connect the Western and Eastern Express Highways and integrate with the Versova–Bhayander coastal road. The project is targeted for completion by December 2028 and is expected to significantly enhance mobility across Mumbai.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.