The GMLR project, a key infrastructure initiative, includes twin tunnels that will traverse the Sanjay Gandhi National Park?s diverse landscape of hills, forests, and farmlands. The realignment is prompted by objections from local tribal communities in Habale pada and Nagarmudi pada, who raised concerns about the impact of the tunnel construction on their livelihoods.
To address these concerns, the BMC has decided to shift the tunnel launch point 600 meters away from the original location in Habale pada. The proposed realignment will be reviewed by experts from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) to ensure its feasibility.
A BMC official stated, ?We will begin construction by using a tunnel boring machine (TBM) and have obtained permission from Film City for the revised tunnel location. The realignment, necessitated by local objections, will increase the project cost by Rs 2.47 billion. The original tunnel cost was Rs 63.01 billion, with the total GMLR project estimated at Rs 85 billion.?
The cost escalation has drawn criticism from opposition leaders, including Ravi Raja, former Congress corporator, who has questioned the justification for the additional Rs 2.5 billion expense. Raja also expressed concerns about the contractor, Singla Pvt Ltd, and called for stringent external oversight by agencies like IIT.
The TBM will be assembled near the site, with tunnel construction expected to start in April 2025. The GMLR, connecting Goregaon in the western suburbs with Mulund in the eastern suburbs, will be approximately 12.2 km long, with the tunnels forming a 4.7 km portion of the third phase. The project is scheduled for completion by October 2028.
(The Indian Express)
