January 13, 2026: The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti has placed the Borivali–Thane twin tunnel project at the centre of its infrastructure push ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, promising faster execution of the long-awaited connectivity link. Designed to bypass congestion on Ghodbunder Road and the Western Express Highway, the project aims to reduce travel time between Thane and Borivali to about 15 minutes once completed.
Being implemented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the project involves construction of two parallel road tunnels running beneath the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP). The total length of the project is 11.8 km, including 10.25 km of tunnels and 1.59 km of connecting roads. Of this, 5.75 km lies on the Borivali side and 6.09 km on the Thane side. Each tunnel will accommodate three lanes, including two traffic lanes and one emergency lane, and is expected to become the longest urban road tunnel in Maharashtra.
“With an investment of ₹12,057 crore, split between ₹6,178 crore for the 5.75 km Borivali stretch and ₹5,879 crore for the 6.09 km Thane side, this tunnel will transform urban commute while ensuring environmental responsibility,” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier said in a post on X.
Currently, commuters travelling between Thane and Borivali via Ghodbunder Road and the Western Express Highway can spend 60 to 90 minutes or longer during peak hours. The tunnel is expected to create a direct underground connection, easing traffic congestion, lowering pollution levels and improving daily mobility across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The design includes cross-passages every 300 metres, advanced ventilation systems, firefighting equipment, smoke detection devices and LED information boards. Tunnel Boring Machines will be used to minimise surface disruption, a key requirement given the alignment beneath the eco-sensitive SGNP. The cutter head diameter will be 13.34 metres, with the machine measuring 86 metres in length and weighing around 2,500 tonnes.
Administrative approval for the project was granted in March 2023, with construction commencing in May 2023. The tunnel is targeted for completion by 2028, with alignment changes and access point extensions planned to manage congestion at local junctions.
