MMRDA's upcoming underground corridor to connect SoBo's East & West coasts; all you need to know

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) envisions a groundbreaking initiative with its proposed underground road tunnel project. This ambitious undertaking marks Mumbai's first-ever urban subterranean corridor, connecting Orange Gate to Marine Drive in the southern part of the city. This strategic infrastructure project aims to tackle the prevalent issue of traffic congestion aimed towards progressive urban development.

Larsen & Toubro (L&T), a distinguished private firm, has been entrusted by MMRDA with the development of the corridor.

• The project encompasses a total alignment length of 9.5 km, featuring the construction of twin tunnels spanning a combined length of 6.5 km.

• Specifically, the southbound traffic will utilize the left-hand side tunnel, measuring 4.5 km in length. On the other hand, the right-hand side tunnel is designated for northbound traffic, with a length of 2 km.

• These tunnels will be ingeniously designed reaching depths of up to 40m. Furthermore, the tunnels will traverse beneath various critical infrastructures such as railways, underground metros, existing roads, heritage buildings, and other essential components.

The corridor is set to establish a seamless connection between the east and west coasts of South Mumbai - seamlessly integrating with key infrastructures like the Eastern Freeway, Mumbai Trans-Harbor Link (MTHL), Coastal Road and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.

• This will further ensure uninterrupted travel, eliminating the need for traffic signals.

• The underground corridor will further provide a streamlined acess to iconic locations such as Marine Drive and the Eastern Freeway.

• The corridor is anticipated to alleviate congestion on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Road by redirecting through traffic through the tunnel.