Archive · 28 Jul 2026
Orange Gate–Marine Drive Tunnel Excavation Hits 650 Metres
The Orange Gate–Marine Drive tunnel in Mumbai is a big underground road project.
It's one of the deepest and most challenging tunnels in India.
The tunnel is being built to help people travel faster and reduce traffic.
The tunnel boring machine has already dug about 650 metres.
Once finished, it will connect important parts of the city and make travel between Orange Gate and Marine Drive much quicker.
The project started in December 2025 and is expected to help the city in many ways.
The Orange Gate–Marine Drive tunnel has reached a major milestone with 650 metres of excavation completed.
The tunnel is one of India's deepest and most technically challenging urban road infrastructure projects.
The project was inaugurated on December 3, 2025, and main tunnelling began on February 28, 2026.
The tunnel will reduce travel time between Orange Gate and Marine Drive to about five minutes.
The project aims to ease congestion, improve freight and passenger movement, and reduce vehicular emissions.
- Who
- Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA)
- What
- Construction of the Orange Gate–Marine Drive underground road tunnel
- When
- Main tunnelling began on February 28, 2026
- Where
- Mumbai, India
- Why
- To ease congestion, improve connectivity, and reduce travel time in South Mumbai
Pro-Infrastructure Advocates
Environmental Concerns
Project Benefits
Pro-Infrastructure Advocates
The tunnel will significantly reduce travel time and ease congestion in South Mumbai.
Environmental Concerns
The project may cause environmental degradation and disrupt local ecosystems.
Economic Impact
Pro-Infrastructure Advocates
The tunnel will boost economic activity by improving connectivity and reducing fuel consumption.
Environmental Concerns
The high cost of the project could be better spent on sustainable transportation solutions.
- Project Inauguration
- December 3, 2025
- Main Tunnelling Start
- February 28, 2026
- Current Excavation Length
- 650 metres
- Total Tunnel Length
- 7 km (twin tunnels)
- Maximum Depth
- 52 metres
- Expected Travel Time Reduction
- Five minutes between Orange Gate and Marine Drive