BMC Clears Rs 250 Crore Goregaon-Mulund Tunnel Realignment

The Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) tunnel is an infrastructure project that the BMC just started realigning to increase connectivity throughout Mumbai. To resolve issues with the impact on the environment and the community, the realignment attempts to avoid tribal farmlands in Film City, Goregaon East. An additional Rs. 250 crores have been spent as a result of the alignment adjustment decision, which has now been approved administratively. Under the slopes of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), 4.7 km of twin tunnels will be built as part of the enormous GMLR project.

Opposition from the tribal populations in Habale Pada and Nagarmudi Pada, which are located within Film City, caused a setback to the construction of the twin tunnels that were originally intended to cross hillocks, forests, and farmlands. The BMC made the decision to realign the planned twin tunnels in light of the tribal groups’ worries about the possible effects on their farmlands and means of subsistence. By moving the tunnels 600 meters from the Habale Pada location that was first suggested, the new routing essentially avoids the farmlands.

In March 2025, the tunnel boring machine (TBM) will be imported from China, and tunnel excavation will then start. A third-party audit will be conducted by VJTI to evaluate the tunnels’ safety requirements, construction, and design. The original cost of the tunnels was Rs. 6,301 crore, but the realignment has increased the cost by Rs. 250 crore.

The twin tunnels are expected to be finished by October 2028, according to the BMC. To improve connectivity throughout Mumbai, the 12.2-kilometer road will link the Eastern Express Highway in Mulund with the Western Express Highway at Goregaon. It is anticipated that this new route will reduce the 75-minute travel time between Mulund and Goregaon to just 25 minutes, providing a much-needed relief to commuters.

Source: The Free Press Journal

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *