Mumbai has taken a major step towards transforming its road connectivity with the launch of the Orange Gate–Marine Drive Tunnel project, a massive infrastructure initiative flagged off by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The project’s Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) was officially inaugurated on Wednesday, marking the beginning of construction on a corridor designed to significantly ease travel across the city.
The move comes as the Mahayuti government intensifies its focus on high-impact infrastructure work ahead of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The Orange Gate–Marine Drive Tunnel, described as a “dream project” by Fadnavis, is expected to completely overhaul east-west movement in Mumbai.
“For years, commuters on the Eastern Freeway faced long detours and heavy congestion. That is why the Orange Gate Tunnel was conceptualised,” Fadnavis said at the launch. “This project will revolutionise commuting in Mumbai, making the city faster than ever.”
The tunnel will directly link the Eastern Freeway to the Coastal Road network, ensuring smoother connectivity across the city. Its alignment passes under nearly 700 properties, including several century-old heritage structures. The route also tunnels beneath three major transport systems — Western Railway, Central Railway, and the Metro — without causing any disruption, making it a major engineering milestone for Mumbai.
The twin tunnel will stretch a total of 9.96 km, with 3 to 3.5 km sections accommodating two lanes and an emergency lane. It will incorporate advanced safety and mobility tech, including a modern ventilation system, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), and an AI-enabled traffic management network. The project is scheduled for completion by December 2028, though authorities are aiming to finish it six months early.
“Once complete, this tunnel will save thousands of hours for thousands of people,” Fadnavis added. “MMRDA’s commitment to driving this project is commendable. It will significantly strengthen Mumbai’s infrastructure and support the city’s long-term growth vision.”
Elevated Eastern Freeway Extension Also Breaks Ground
Alongside the twin-tunnel project, work has also begun on another major connectivity booster — the Elevated Eastern Freeway Extension. When completed, it will allow commuters to travel from South Mumbai to Thane in just 25 to 30 minutes.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has begun construction of a 13.9 km, fully elevated, six-lane high-speed corridor aimed at dramatically reducing congestion on the Eastern Express Highway (EEH), one of the busiest arterial routes in the city.
The new corridor will run from Anand Nagar in Thane to Chheda Nagar in Ghatkopar, connecting key nodes like Mulund, Airoli, JVLR, Vikhroli, Kanjurmarg, Mankhurd, and Ghatkopar. At the Thane end, it will merge smoothly with the Anand Nagar–Saket Elevated Road, forming a continuous high-speed link. The project will further connect commuters to the Samruddhi Expressway for uninterrupted travel from Mumbai to Nagpur.
Once operational, the extension is expected to ease traffic flow, cut emissions, and provide a faster, cleaner, and more reliable commute for lakhs of daily travellers. It is also projected to boost economic activity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Environmental Safeguards Incorporated
In a sustainability-focused effort, MMRDA revised the Vikhroli–Ghatkopar alignment to preserve 127 mature Pink Trumpet trees. To offset the environmental impact of construction, the authority will also plant 4,175 new trees as compensatory green cover.