The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has proposed a significant modification to its Rs 7,500-crore underground tunnel project linking Orange Gate and Marine Drive. The revised plan involves shifting the tunnel’s exit point further north, from near Wankhede Stadium to close to the PM Hindu Swimming Bath & Boat Club, popularly known as Mafatlal Swimming Pool, near Girgaum Chowpatty.
According to officials, the updated proposal has been submitted to the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority for fresh clearance, as the change requires additional approval despite the project receiving coastal nods in 2024. The modification is currently the only pending approval for the revised alignment.
The decision to extend the exit point follows a recommendation by Devendra Fadnavis. Officials said the adjustment is intended to ease congestion along the busy Marine Drive stretch—often referred to as the “Queen’s Necklace”—by distributing traffic more efficiently.
The tunnel is expected to significantly improve east–west connectivity in South Mumbai by linking the eastern waterfront at Orange Gate to the western coast near Girgaum Chowpatty. Once operational, travel time between the two points is projected to drop from around 45 minutes to just five minutes. The corridor will also integrate with major routes such as the Eastern Freeway, Atal Setu and the Coastal Road, helping decongest key arteries like SV Patel Road.
In its submission, MMRDA highlighted that traffic forecasts indicate a sharp rise in vehicles exiting at Marine Drive, which existing infrastructure may struggle to accommodate. Extending the tunnel northwards has therefore been identified as a practical engineering solution, especially given space constraints on land.
The project contractor, Larsen & Toubro, has engaged the National Institute of Oceanography to assess environmental impacts, including studies on hydrodynamics, sediment movement and shoreline changes, along with mitigation strategies.
The proposal also alludes to a possible second phase, involving the expansion of Marine Drive by adding six lanes between Princess Street flyover and B D Somani Chowk. However, this remains at an early stage, pending further studies and approvals.
Source: The Free Press Journal
