July 7, 2025: Over a year after the proposal was first introduced, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has revived its ambitious Rs 4,392 crore multi-modal tunnel connectivity project. The civic body has floated a fresh tender inviting consultants to prepare a detailed feasibility study and master plan for a tunnel network aimed at improving transport across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
Envisioned as a solution to Mumbai’s growing traffic congestion, the project aims to introduce a subterranean transport layer through an integrated network of tunnels. This initiative is expected to significantly enhance connectivity within the MMR over the next three decades.
In October 2023, the Maharashtra government had set up an eight-member committee to draft a long-term master plan for the smart tunnel network. Although the BMC had initially invited bids for consultancy services in February 2024, the response was tepid, and the process faced delays due to technical challenges.
Now, with a renewed push, the BMC has reissued the tender to appoint a project management consultant. The scope includes conducting traffic and feasibility studies, preparing the tunnel layout and master plan, managing the bidding process, and supervising construction. According to civic officials, each 6-km tunnel is estimated to cost around Rs 732 crore.
Only firms with prior experience handling infrastructure projects worth over Rs5,000 crore and having developed at least one 8-km or two 5-km tunnels using tunnel boring machine (TBM) technology and twin-decker designs are eligible to bid.
Despite the renewed momentum, internal concerns remain over the feasibility of adding another large-scale project amidst ongoing developments like the GMLR, the Madh–Versova link, and the second phase of the coastal road. Civic officials have acknowledged the need for robust traffic modelling to ensure the project aligns with the city’s broader infrastructure strategy.
Source: The Free Press Journal
