In a major infrastructure push, the Union Ministry of Environment has approved 19.43 hectares of forest land transfer for Mumbai’s twin tunnels under SGNP. Part of the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road, the 12.2 km project aims to cut east-west travel time to 25 minutes while reducing emissions and preserving forest integrity.
Representational Image. File Pic
In a significant development for Mumbai’s road and bridge infrastructure, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has finally granted approval for the transfer of 19.43 hectares of forest land. The land from Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the construction of twin tunnels under Phase III of the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project has been approved.
As per the press release from the BMC, the twin tunnels, each 4.7 km long and 45.7 metres wide, will run beneath the SGNP in Borivali. With this approval from the Union Ministry, the BMC has begun the compliance process as per the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
According to Additional BMC Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar, the tunnel project is expected to be a milestone not only in transport connectivity but also in the sustainable urban development of Mumbai city and suburbs.
The Goregaon-Mulund Link Road, which stretches around 12.2 km, will aim to drastically reduce travel time between the eastern and western suburbs. Currently, the estimated time of travel from Goregaon to Mukund is around 75 minutes. However, the project aims at reducing the travel time to just 25 minutes. This initiative, as per BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, is being executed in four phases. Once completed, it is expected to save fuel, ease traffic congestion, and reduce carbon emissions by around 22,400 tonnes annually.
According to the release by BMC, phase 3 of the project has been divided into two parts, which include the construction of a flyover and elevated rotary, encompassing the construction of a 1.22 km triple-lane box tunnel in Goregaon’s Film City and the construction of two deep underground tunnels under SGNP. As per the BMC release, the entire Phase 3 stretch covers 6.65 km.
The twin tunnels will be located 20 to 160 metres under the ground and will feature facilities such as a ventilation system, fire safety features, CCTV surveillance, and control rooms at both ends.
Despite the transfer of land, the forest status of SGNP still remains intact. The tunnels will begin and end outside the park’s physical boundary, ensuring that no trees or core park areas are disturbed.
With this final approval, Mumbai moves a step closer to solving one of its biggest mobility challenges while maintaining ecological sensitivity.
Furthermore, as a part of environmental mitigation, BMC has proposed an afforestation of 19.5 hectares in Chandrapur district, covering land in Vasanvihira and Gondamohadi villages.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
