The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is planning two additional ring routes, increasing its proposed network from seven to nine. The new routes will extend the network beyond Mumbai to Thane, Navi Mumbai and the northern suburbs, with the two proposed rings covering around 307 km. The entire stretch will not comprise newly constructed roads. Existing roads will be linked with infrastructure projects that are under construction or still being planned to create continuous loops across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The eighth ring road will cover 197 km, while the ninth will extend for 110 km.
The eighth ring road will start at Sewri, at the Mumbai end of the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL). The Eastern Freeway and its under-construction extension towards Thane will be used before the route is taken through the Anand Nagar-Saket elevated road. It will then proceed towards Navi Mumbai through the Mumbai-Vadodara Expressway and NH 4B to Chirle, from where the MTHL will be used to return to Sewri. According to MMRDA officials, the route will provide a direct link between Thane, Navi Mumbai and Bhiwandi. Connectivity to the JNPT region, other major freight and development centres, and emerging areas such as Amane in Thane will also be provided.
The ninth ring road will begin at Nariman Point and run northwards along Mumbai's western coast. The coastal road network, Bandra-Worli Sea Link, Versova-Bandra Sea Link and northern coastal road will be used to reach Borivali. From there, the route will turn east through the Thane-Borivali Twin Tunnel and enter Thane. The route will then travel south using Thane Coastal Road 1, the Anand Nagar-Saket elevated road, the Eastern Freeway extension and the Eastern Freeway. The proposed Orange Gate tunnel will be used to connect the route back to Nariman Point.
MMRDA metropolitan commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee said the approach represented a “paradigm shift” from considering individual infrastructure projects separately to treating Mumbai and the wider MMR as an integrated road network.
Both ring routes are planned as access-controlled corridors with a design speed of 80 kmph. Entry and exit points will be restricted, while several sections are expected to be tolled. However, the loops will not become continuous immediately as several projects forming part of the routes remain under construction or at the planning stage. Both routes are targeted to become fully operational by 2029. Connections between the different projects will be created through ramps, connectors, junction improvements and interchange arrangements. Mukherjee said these would be planned on the basis of detailed engineering and traffic assessments. The cost of integrating the various projects is still being worked out.
Projects being developed by MMRDA, BMC, MSRDC and NHAI will form part of the network. The authority is also examining whether additional capacity will be required on existing corridors such as the Eastern Freeway and Sewri-Worli Connector. Any widening will depend on technical feasibility, available right of way and traffic studies.
According to officials, the objective is to divert long-distance traffic from congested internal roads by providing alternative routes around Mumbai and the wider metropolitan region.