Mumbai’s northern western suburbs are set for a major transport upgrade with the construction of a 3.9-km twin-tunnel corridor beneath Malad Creek, the Poisar River and nearby mangrove areas. The underground section will connect Mindspace in Malad West with Charkop in Kandivali and forms a key component of the 22-km Versova-Bhayander Coastal Road.
The tunnel package is estimated to cost Rs 5,821 crore, with excavation expected to begin in early 2027. Authorities are targeting completion of the coastal road project by 2029.
Tunnels Designed to Protect Sensitive Areas
The underground alignment has been proposed partly to avoid disturbing an environmentally sensitive zone containing mangroves and water bodies. According to the civic administration, the tunnel approach will minimise the need for tree cutting and reduce disruption to the coastal ecosystem.
Of the 3.9-km tunnel length, around 3 km will be circular tunnels excavated using Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs). Each will have an estimated diameter of 14.2 metres and pass beneath water bodies and creek sections.
The remaining approximately 700 metres will comprise rectangular tunnel sections.
Each tunnel will accommodate three lanes of traffic and include five cross-passages intended for emergency evacuation and access between the twin tubes. Tunnel width is expected to range between 36 and 45 metres.
The infrastructure will also include modern fire-safety and accident-prevention systems, ventilation arrangements and heat sensors.
Alternative to Existing Western Suburban Roads
Currently, north-south movement through Mumbai’s western suburbs depends heavily on the Western Express Highway, Link Road and SV Road. Rising traffic volumes have increased pressure on these routes.
The proposed coastal road is intended to create another high-capacity corridor, allowing traffic to bypass some of the existing congested routes between the western suburbs.
Part of Versova-Bhayander Coastal Road
The tunnels are being developed as part of Phase II of Mumbai’s Coastal Road, a 22-km corridor planned to connect Versova with Bhayander.
“Considering the tunnels will pass below mangrove patches, rivers and creeks, we can say that this will be Mumbai’s first vehicular tunnels that will pass underneath water bodies. We are eyeing a 2029 deadline for the coastal road project, and once operational, travel time between Versova and Bhayander will take less than 20 minutes, which now takes more than an hour,” Abhijit Bangar, additional municipal commissioner (Projects).
The project is expected to improve connectivity across the northern western suburbs while reducing pressure on existing roads. For motorists, the proposed corridor could significantly shorten journeys between Versova, Malad, Kandivali and Bhayander once the complete route becomes operational.
The use of TBMs beneath ecologically sensitive terrain also makes the project a notable engineering undertaking for Mumbai, combining large-scale transport infrastructure with efforts to limit direct intervention in mangrove and water-body areas.
With mining scheduled to begin in 2027, the next major milestone will be the start of underground excavation and construction of the twin tunnels, which are expected to form one of the most technically challenging sections of the Versova-Bhayander Coastal Road.
Source: The Indian Express
