The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has started preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed integrated tunnel road network.
Designed to reduce congestion and connect the city's major transportation and business hubs, this underground network represents the next dimension in Mumbai's mobility vision.
The 70-km underground network will link the Mumbai Coastal Road, Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) High-Speed Rail Station, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA).
The tunnel network will be implemented in three phases based on traffic needs and future mobility demand.
The three phases will include 16-km Worli Sea Link-BKC-Airport Loop, 10-km East-West Link, and 44-km North-South Corridor.
The proposed network will also integrate metro, coastal, and tunnel corridors to achieve the 'Mumbai in Minutes' vision. The report will assess technical, environmental, and economic feasibility before phased rollout.
The appointed consultant will study geological, environmental, and socio-economic factors, prepare tunnel designs, and assist MMRDA with bid process management.
Once implemented, the tunnel network will function as a subterranean expressway, cutting travel time between major hubs, while easing traffic on western express highway and SV Road.
With this, Mumbai will join the league of global cities such as Tokyo, Singapore, Helsinki, and Sydney that have developed extensive underground road networks.
It is pertinent to note that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde approved the appointment of a consultant for the Techno-Economic Feasibility Study and DPR preparation for the first phase on September 30. The tender was issued on October 10 October, a pre-bid meeting was held on October 17, and bids are scheduled to open on November 17.