December 6, 2025: With BMC elections nearing, the Mahayuti Government has intensified work on Mumbai’s big-ticket infrastructure projects. A key milestone came with the launch of construction on the Orange Gate–Marine Drive Twin Tunnel, marking a major enhancement to the city’s east–west connectivity. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde inaugurated the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), kicking off excavation from Orange Gate toward Marine Drive.
Fadnavis said the tunnel was designed to eliminate long detours and persistent congestion for Eastern Freeway users, adding that it will “transform travel across the city” by offering faster journeys and seamless links. The twin tunnel will integrate the Eastern Freeway with the Coastal Road, passing beneath nearly 700 properties, including century-old heritage buildings. It will also run under the Western Railway, Central Railway, and Metro lines without impacting operations, making it a significant engineering undertaking.
The project spans 9.96 km, with 3–3.5 km sections featuring two lanes and an emergency lane. It will be equipped with an advanced ventilation system, ITS Smart Mobility features, and an AI-powered traffic management setup. While the deadline is December 2028, the state aims to deliver it six months early.
Simultaneously, work has begun on the Elevated Eastern Freeway Extension, which is expected to reduce travel time between South Mumbai and Thane to 25–30 minutes. MMRDA has commenced construction of the 13.9 km, six-lane, fully elevated high-speed corridor designed to ease pressure on the Eastern Express Highway, one of the city’s busiest arterial roads. The new link will connect Anand Nagar in Thane to Chheda Nagar in Ghatkopar, passing through Mulund, Airoli, Vikhroli, Kanjurmarg, JVLR, Mankhurd, and Ghatkopar. In Thane, it will merge with the Anand Nagar–Saket Elevated Road and further connect to the Samruddhi Expressway.
The corridor is expected to streamline traffic flow, cut emissions, and provide a faster and greener commute for millions. In line with environmental commitments, MMRDA realigned the Vikhroli–Ghatkopar section to protect 127 Pink Trumpet trees and will plant 4,175 new trees as compensatory cover.
Source: Construction World
