Mumbai Set for a Commute Revolution: New 9.96-km Tunnel and 13.9-km Elevated Freeway Launched

Mumbai, Dec 04, 2025: In a major step to transform Mumbai’s traffic landscape, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde inaugurated the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for the ambitious Orange Gate–Marine Drive Tunnel project. This twin tunnel, stretching 9.96 km, is designed to link the Eastern Freeway directly to the Coastal Road network, promising to dramatically cut travel time for thousands of commuters. “The Eastern Freeway has long been plagued by congestion and long detours. This tunnel project is a dream come true for Mumbaikars. It will make city travel faster, safer, and smoother,” said CM Fadnavis. The tunnel alignment passes beneath nearly 700 properties, including century-old heritage buildings, and navigates under Western Railway, Central Railway, and the Metro without disturbing existing infrastructure—a remarkable engineering achievement. The tunnel will feature two lanes with an additional emergency lane over stretches of 3 to 3.5 km. Advanced systems like Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Smart Mobility technology and AI-enabled traffic management will ensure efficiency and safety. Completion is slated for December 2028, with an ambitious target to finish six months earlier. Officials anticipate the tunnel will save thousands of hours for daily commuters, easing the strain on Mumbai’s arterial routes. Alongside the tunnel, the MMRDA has started construction on a 13.9 km Elevated Eastern Freeway Extension, a fully elevated 6-lane high-speed corridor. This corridor will connect South Mumbai to Thane in just 25-30 minutes, linking key points such as Anand Nagar, Thane, Chheda Nagar, Mulund, Airoli, JVLR, Vikhroli, Kanjurmarg, Mankhurd, and Ghatkopar. In Thane, it will merge seamlessly with the Anand Nagar–Saket Elevated Road, offering onward connectivity to the Samruddhi Expressway, Mumbai’s route to Nagpur. The elevated freeway aims to ease congestion on the Eastern Express Highway, Mumbai’s busiest route, while improving traffic flow, reducing emissions, and providing a faster, greener commute. In line with sustainable development goals, the Vikhroli–Ghatkopar stretch was realigned to save 127 Pink Trumpet trees, and 4,175 new trees will be planted as compensatory green cover. These two projects, both high-visibility and high-impact, are expected to transform commuting in Mumbai, boost economic activity across the MMR, and set new benchmarks for urban infrastructure and sustainable city planning. Mumbai Set for a Commute Revolution: New 9.96-km Tunnel and 13.9-km Elevated Freeway Launched Mumbai is all set to get a major boost in its traffic and commuting scene. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde recently launched the Tunnel Boring Machine for the Orange Gate–Marine Drive Tunnel project, a 9.96 km twin tunnel that will connect the Eastern Freeway directly to the Coastal Road network. This project is expected to save thousands of hours for daily commuters and ease the heavy traffic that has long frustrated people traveling through the city. The tunnel will pass under nearly 700 properties, including century-old heritage buildings, and navigate under Western Railway, Central Railway, and Metro lines without disturbing existing infrastructure. With two lanes plus an emergency lane in some stretches, it will also include advanced ventilation, AI-enabled traffic management, and Smart Mobility technology to ensure safety and smooth travel. The project is expected to be completed by December 2028, with hopes of finishing six months earlier. In addition to the tunnel, the MMRDA has started work on a 13.9 km Elevated Eastern Freeway Extension. This six-lane high-speed corridor will connect South Mumbai to Thane in just 25–30 minutes, passing through key areas like Anand Nagar, Chheda Nagar, Mulund, Airoli, Vikhroli, Kanjurmarg, Mankhurd, and Ghatkopar. It will merge with the Anand Nagar–Saket Elevated Road in Thane, giving seamless access to the Samruddhi Expressway toward Nagpur. The elevated freeway will help reduce congestion on the Eastern Express Highway, improve traffic flow, cut emissions, and make commutes faster and greener. In a move to protect the environment, the Vikhroli–Ghatkopar stretch was realigned to save 127 Pink Trumpet trees, and 4,175 new trees will be planted. These projects are expected to transform Mumbai’s infrastructure, making travel faster, safer, and more sustainable while supporting the city’s long-term growth.