Orange Gate and Marine Drive tunnel will save thousands of hours for thousands of people: Devendra Fadnavis

Pic/Shadab Khan

The upcoming Coastal Road tunnel between Orange Gate and Marine Drive in south Mumbai will save "thousands of hours for thousands of people", said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI.

The tunnel, with both ducts together spanning 9.25 km, will be an engineering feat. It will run beneath the Central Railway and Western Railway tracks, and even 50 metres below the underground Metro 3 line, he said.

"Thousands of hours for thousands of people will be saved," Fadnavis said at the site, where the tunnel boring machine (TBM) for the project was launched in the morning, reported PTI.

The tunnel will be constructed under 700 structures, including many heritage properties, said the CM.

As per the current plan, the Orange Gate-Marine Drive underground tunnel is expected to be completed by 2028, but they are striving to finish the project six months before the deadline, said Fadnavis, said the CM.

The tunnel will provide an alternative route to the residents of south Mumbai and those living in the western suburbs of the metropolis to reach the Navi Mumbai international airport, as another connector between Sewri and Worli is under construction.

The Coastal Road currently connects Marine Drive to Worli, where it links with the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.

Deputy CM Ekanath Shinde, Mumbai Guardian minister Mangal Prasad Lodha and Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar were among those present at the TBM launch function.

Estimated at Rs 8,056 crore and scheduled for completion in 54 months, the project includes the design and construction of a nearly 10-km roadway, of which approximately 7 km will be entirely underground. Once operational, the corridor is expected to substantially reduce travel time between the city's eastern and southern regions by 15 to 20 minutes. Officials also highlighted the project's potential to cut fuel consumption and ease both air and noise pollution across key traffic-heavy zones.

The project features twin tunnels, each equipped with two 3.2-metre traffic lanes and an additional 2.5-metre emergency lane. Vehicles will be allowed to travel at a maximum speed of 80 kmph. For safety, cross passages will link the two tunnels every 300 metres. The plan also includes advanced ventilation systems, fire-resistant materials, modern illumination, and an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) to improve monitoring and traffic flow.

Officials said the decision to adopt an underground alignment was crucial to minimising land acquisition and reducing disruptions at ground level. The corridor will ultimately integrate with major transport initiatives, including the Coastal Road and the Atal Setu, enhancing Mumbai's larger mobility network.