by Deepak Sawant 
Mumbai’s ambitious Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project will directly link the Western and Eastern Express Highways, dramatically improving citywide connectivity. The total corridor spans about 12.2 km, connecting Goregaon (WEH) in the west to Mulund (EEH) in the east. A key component is a pair of twin tunnels under the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP). Each tunnel is roughly 4.7 km long, and together with a 1.22-km triple-lane box tunnel at Film City, forms a 6.65 km subterranean highway. Upon completion, the GMLR is expected to cut the current Goregaon–Mulund travel time from around 75 minutes to just 25 minutes, easing traffic on alternative routes.
The GMLR is being executed in four phases. Phase 3(B) covers the crucial underground link: a 6.65-km corridor including the Film City box tunnel and the twin SGNP tunnels. The Film City tunnel will be a 1.22 km cut-and-cover box tunnel, while the two bored tunnels (one in each direction) will pass deep beneath SGNP. Engineers have designed the tunnels to run 20–160 m below ground in this hilly, forested area. Every 300 meters, cross-passages will link the two tubes for emergency safety. Advanced features (lighting, ventilation, fire safety and CCTV) and utility ducts for drainage and future pipelines are integrated into the design. Notably, no trees will be cut in the tunnel zone – the entire alignment lies deep underground beneath the park. Compensatory afforestation (around 19.5 ha in Chandrapur) is planned for the diverted forest land.
Construction has ramped up in 2025. Two giant Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) will excavate the twin tubes. By July 2025, 54 of the 77 TBM component containers had arrived in Mumbai from Japan, and the remaining 23 were due by mid-August. These parts are being unloaded at Jawaharlal Nehru Port and trucked to the site. The first TBM is being assembled on a shaft at Film City – a process taking about four months. Its launch shaft and a corresponding shaft at the Mulund end will soon be ready. Once complete, each TBM (with ~13–14m diameter cutters) will be lowered and will begin boring one tunnel. The second TBM is expected to arrive by late 2025. Both machines will then excavate in parallel beneath the park, heading toward each other. Official targets aim for tunnel completion by October 2028.
- Project highlights: The GMLR is a ~12.2 km link road (total project) between Goregaon and Mulund. It includes two 4.7 km tunnels plus a 1.22 km box tunnel. The twin tunnels will be 45.7 m in circumference and packed with modern safety systems. The project cost is about ₹14,000 crore overall, of which the tunnels cost ~₹6,548 crore. Travel time will fall from ~75 to 25 minutes, transforming commutes. Construction is phased: besides the tunnels, other phases include flyovers and road widening to smooth connections..
- Environmental and societal benefits: By providing a shorter route, the GMLR will reduce vehicular distance by ~8.8 km compared to existing east-west routes (like JVLR). It is estimated to cut 22,400 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year by saving fuel. By shifting traffic underground in SGNP, the highway avoids surface disruption of the park’s sensitive terrain. Traffic congestion and air pollution in northern Mumbai should ease significantly. The project includes rehabilitation measures for affected communities and fully follows forest conservation regulations.
- Timeline: The GMLR’s tunnel section officially broke ground in mid-2024 (PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the 6.65 km tunnel project in July 2024). After securing environmental clearance (final approval for 19.43 ha of forest land was granted in July 2025), BMC has begun preparatory work. The first TBM assembly will finish in late 2025, with boring work commencing early 2026. Both tunnels are slated to be dug concurrently until late 2028. Once fully operational (expected October 2028), the GMLR will provide seamless east–west connectivity across Mumbai.
This major infrastructure project promises to cut a one-and-a-half-hour journey to under half an hour, substantially improving daily commutes. Key facts at a glance:
- Length: 12.20 km total (including 6.65 km under SGNP).
- Tunnels: Twin 4.7 km, 45.7m circumference tubes under SGNP; 1.22 km cut-and-cover tunnel at Film City.
- Depth: 20–160m below surface.
- Cost: ~₹14,000 crore (tunnels ~₹6,548 crore).
- Travel time: 75 min → 25 min between Goregaon and Mulund.
- Completion Target: October 2028.
Sources: Latest updates from civic and media reports, including BMC and MoEFCC announcements, confirm these project details and timeline. The Goregaon-Mulund Link Road is poised to become a game-changer for Mumbai’s mobility, linking its western and eastern suburbs more efficiently and sustainably than ever before.
