To finance the Orange Gate to Marine Drive subterranean tunnel project, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has obtained a loan of Rs 7,326 crore from Union Bank of India.
Spanning 9.2 km, the tunnel road aims to enhance east-west connectivity in South Mumbai, forming a crucial ring route. The project will include a 6.52-km dual-tunnel system with a dedicated emergency lane, ensuring smoother traffic movement.
The loan arrangement was formally signed by MMRDA commissioner Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee on Wednesday, confirming the project’s financial stability. MMRDA underlined that this investment will speed up development and greatly enhance Mumbai citizens’ urban transportation.
This ambitious project marks the city’s first urban tunnel, running beneath key public transport corridors, including railway lines, Metro routes, and major arterial roads. Once completed, it will seamlessly connect the Eastern Freeway, Mumbai Trans Harbour Sealink (MTHL), Coastal Road, and Bandra-Worli Sea Link, ensuring uninterrupted traffic flow between the eastern and western coasts of South Mumbai.
The Orange Gate Tunnel, an expansion of the Eastern Freeway, will improve access to Marine Drive while reducing long-standing congestion difficulties around Orange Gate. It is anticipated that the tunnel, which would be built about 40 meters below the surface, will relieve traffic jams in the Mumbai Port Trust and Main Post Office Square on PD Mello Marg.
According to MMRDA officials, the launching shaft tunnel work is already in progress, with tunnel boring machines set to be deployed soon to expedite construction.
Source: The India Express
