19 October,2026 05:03 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide reviewed the tunnel work on Monday and directed officials to maintain construction speed while prioritising safety and quality. Pic/Special Arrangement
Mumbai's Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project has made progress, with the first tunnel boring machine, named Tulsi, completing 183 metres of excavation beneath Sanjay Gandhi National Park, an official statement said on Monday.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has also completed the site acceptance test (SAT) for the second tunnel boring machine, Vihar, paving the way for excavation of the second tunnel, it said.
BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide reviewed the tunnel work on Monday and directed officials to maintain construction speed while prioritising safety and quality.
The civic body also said that a 1.26-km flyover connecting Dindoshi Court to Dadasaheb Phalke Film City has been completed under Phase 3 of the project.
The twin-tunnel section of the GMLR project will connect Dadasaheb Phalke Film City in Goregaon East with Amar Nagar in Mulund West, passing beneath Sanjay Gandhi National Park, the statement said.
The project involves two parallel tunnels, each around 5.30 km long and designed with three lanes.
The first tunnel boring machine, Tulsi, became operational on August 17, 2026. Since then, it has completed 183 metres of excavation at an average rate of 5.5 metres per day, according to the BMC.
Construction of 87 permanent ring segments, which form an important part of the tunnel structure, has also been completed. In addition, six temporary ring segments have been installed.
The second tunnel boring machine, Vihar, has completed its site acceptance test. The technical tests were carried out to check whether the machine met the prescribed requirements.
According to the BMC, the necessary procedures for beginning excavation of the second tunnel are nearing completion.
The two machines will be used to construct the parallel tunnels beneath the national park, forming a key part of the east-west road link between Goregaon and Mulund.
During her site visit, Bhide reviewed the excavation process, project progress, machinery performance, construction quality and safety arrangements.
She directed officials to take the necessary steps to prevent delays and ensure that the project is completed within the stipulated timeframe.
The commissioner also called for regular reviews of construction progress, technical requirements, machinery and staffing. Officials were instructed to provide additional workers and technical personnel wherever required.
Given the technically challenging nature of tunnel excavation, Bhide stressed that the safety of workers and engineers must remain a priority. She directed officials to ensure compliance with safety standards, provide the necessary protective equipment and implement preventive measures against potential hazards.
She also called for proper transportation and disposal of excavated material, known as muck, and cleanliness at the project site and its surroundings.
Separately, the BMC has completed a 1.26-km flyover connecting Dindoshi Court to Dadasaheb Phalke Film City in Goregaon under Phase 3 of the GMLR project.
Bhide inspected the flyover on Monday morning and reviewed the progress of the associated works.
The flyover has three lanes in each direction and begins at Dindoshi Court before descending near Dadasaheb Phalke Film City.
It was constructed using precast reinforced concrete segmental box girders supported by a single-pier structure.
Once the wider GMLR project is operational, the corridor is expected to improve east-west connectivity between Mumbai's eastern and western suburbs and provide an alternative route for motorists.
