The Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR), one of Mumbai’s most significant infrastructure projects aimed at improving east-west connectivity, has entered a crucial stage with preparations intensifying for the commencement of tunnelling work beneath the Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is advancing work on the twin tunnel section of the project, with the assembly of the first Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) at the launch shaft near Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari expected to be completed by mid-June. Installation of the second TBM is also progressing simultaneously, paving the way for excavation activities to begin shortly.
Before excavation operations can commence, the first machine will undergo a detailed Site Acceptance Test (SAT), a mandatory process to assess the readiness and performance of all critical systems. The testing programme will evaluate mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, operational control and safety components to ensure the equipment meets technical and project specifications.
The progress of the project was recently reviewed by Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar during a site visit, where he assessed the status of the tunnel works and associated infrastructure.
Authorities remain confident of adhering to the project timeline. Excavation of the twin tunnels is expected to be completed by October 2028, while the entire Goregaon-Mulund Link Road corridor is targeted for completion by December 2028.
Spanning 12.20 kilometres, the GMLR is designed to significantly reduce travel time between Mumbai’s eastern and western suburbs. A major feature of the project is the construction of two parallel tunnels extending 4.70 kilometres beneath the national park’s terrain.
Each tunnel will house three traffic lanes and incorporate modern infrastructure, including ventilation systems, fire safety provisions, stormwater drainage facilities and utility corridors.
The tunnelling operation will be carried out using two TBMs supplied by Terratec. With a diameter of 14.49 metres and a weight of approximately 2,175 tonnes each, these machines will be the largest tunnel boring machines ever deployed in Mumbai.
Source: Swarajya
