Nearly 40 metres below the Malad Creek, Poisar River and mangrove patches, Mumbai is set to carve out a 3.9-km twin-tunnel corridor linking Mindspace in Malad West to Charkop in Kandivali. The Rs 5,821-crore tunnel package, a key part of the 22-km Versova-Bhayander Coastal Road, is expected to enter the mining phase early next year and be operational by 2029.

The underground route is aimed at easing the western suburbs’ dependence on the Western Express Highway, Link Road and SV Road, while allowing the coastal road to pass through an ecologically sensitive stretch without cutting trees or disturbing mangroves.

Significance of the project

At present, North-South connectivity in the western suburbs is dependent on the Western Express Highway (WEH), Link Road and SV Road. Considering the increasing vehicular density, the coastal road is expected to take off the load from the existing roads, providing an alternate route for seamless connectivity.

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Features of the tunnels

Out of the total 3.9 KM length, around 3 KM of this tunnel will be cylindrical in shape, to be constructed by mining through a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), and is set to have a diameter of 14.2 meters.

Each tunnel will have three lanes for vehicular movement, along with five cross passages

The cylindrical portion of the tunnels will pass beneath the Poisar River and Creeks. The remaining portion of the tunnels will be rectangular in shape and 700 meters long.

Each tunnel will have three lanes for vehicular movement, along with five cross passages, built as a precautionary measure against emergency situations.

The width of the tunnels will vary between 36 meters and 45 meters.

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Civic officials maintained that the tunnels will be equipped with a modern-day fire and accident prevention system, along with ventilation facilities and heat sensors.

Why a tunnel?

The area through which this tunnel will pass is an ecologically sensitive zone (ESZ) having mangrove patches and water bodies. The BMC has maintained that the reason the tunnel is chosen is to ensure that the mangroves don’t get damaged and the process also doesn’t require cutting of any trees.

Cost and timeline

The total cost of this project has been pegged at 20,000 crore, of which Rs 5,821 crore has been earmarked for constructing the twin tunnels. The mining for the tunnels is set to begin in early 2027, and the tunnels are likely to become operational by 2029.

Administration speaks

“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).

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About the coastal road

The tunnels will be part of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (Phase II). This 22 km-long high-speed corridor being built by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to connect Versova with Bhayander in the northern end of Mumbai. As part of this project, a 3.9 KM stretch between Mindspace and Charkop will be connected through these underwater tunnels.