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Construction of Mumbai's Orange Gate-Marine Drive twin tunnel has commenced, targeting completion by June 2028, six months ahead of schedule. The nearly 10 km corridor, with 7 km underground, will run beneath about 700 buildings, including heritage and residential structures, and two major railway lines. Designed to reduce travel time to 5-7 minutes and provide a direct link to Navi Mumbai Airport, the project features advanced safety systems, a 12.2 metre TBM, and cross-passages every 300 metres. Estimated at INR 8,056 crore, around 15 percent of the work is already complete.
Mumbai has officially started construction on the Orange Gate-Marine Drive twin tunnel, a key east-west corridor that will pass beneath around 700 structures, including heritage buildings, dense residential clusters, and two major railway lines. Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis has directed the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to complete the tunnel by June?2028, six months ahead of the original December deadline. The corridor stretches nearly 10?km, with approximately 7?km running underground at depths ranging from 12 to 52 metres, making it one of the most challenging urban infrastructure projects in the city's history. Advertisement
Once operational, the tunnel is expected to reduce travel time between Orange Gate and Marine Drive from the current 22-40 minutes to just 5-7 minutes. It will provide a direct route to the Navi Mumbai International Airport for residents of south Mumbai and western suburbs, while also easing traffic pressure on major roads along the route.
Each tunnel will include two 3.2?metre-wide traffic lanes and a 2.5?metre emergency lane. Cross-passages will be placed every 300 metres for safety. The project incorporates advanced ventilation, fire safety, traffic management, and lighting systems designed for speeds up to 80?km/h. Excavation is being carried out using a 12.2 metre slurry shield tunnel?boring machine (TBM), which can handle Mumbai's challenging coastal soil conditions and water ingress risks.
Officials highlight that the tunnel alignment is particularly complex because it passes beneath a 50 metre-deep Metro line and active railway corridors, requiring careful engineering to protect existing structures above. The total project cost is estimated at INR 8,056 crore, and about 15 percent of the work has been completed so far.
Source: PTI
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