Archive · 3 Dec 2025
India's First Urban Tunnel Project Launched in Mumbai
The Maharashtra Chief Minister started work on a big tunnel project in Mumbai.
This is India's first urban tunnel and will help people travel faster and easier.
The tunnel will go under many buildings and train lines.
It will connect different parts of Mumbai and make it quicker to reach the new airport in Navi Mumbai.
The project is expected to finish by December 2028 and will cost a lot of money.
It will have special machines to dig the tunnel safely.
This project will help reduce traffic, noise, and pollution in Mumbai.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched India's first urban tunnel project, the Orange Gate to Marine Drive Urban Tunnel, to ease Mumbai's traffic congestion and enhance connectivity.
The 9.96 km project, including approximately 7 km of underground tunnel, aims to connect the Eastern and Western suburbs of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, reducing travel time by 15–20 minutes.
The tunnel will pass beneath 700 properties, heritage buildings, and operational railway lines, with a target completion date of December 2028.
The project, costing Rs 8,056 crore, will use a Slurry Shield Type Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for safe and precise excavation in Mumbai's coastal underground strata.
The tunnel will feature two lanes each, one emergency lane, mechanical ventilation, fire suppression systems, and an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) for modern traffic management.
- Who
- Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde
- What
- Launch of India's first urban tunnel project, the Orange Gate to Marine Drive Urban Tunnel
- When
- Wednesday (specific date not mentioned)
- Where
- Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Why
- To ease traffic congestion, enhance connectivity, and provide a direct route to Navi Mumbai International Airport
- Project Name
- Orange Gate to Marine Drive Urban Tunnel
- Project Cost
- Rs 8,056 crore
- Project Length
- 9.96 km (7 km underground tunnel)
- Tunnel Lanes
- Two lanes each (3.2 metres wide) + one emergency lane
- Speed Limit
- 80 kmph
- Completion Target
- December 2028 (aiming for 6 months earlier)
- Implementing Agency
- Larsen and Toubro (L&T)
- Tunnelling Technology
- Slurry Shield Type Tunnel Boring Machine (Slurry Type TBM)
