The construction of twin tunnels beneath Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali, part of Phase III of the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) Project, is set to progress following final approval from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). The approval allows the transfer of 19.43 hectares of forest land to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), enabling work on the 4.7 km long and 45.70 m wide twin tunnels. In response, BMC has initiated the compliance and clearance process as per the stipulated guidelines.
The 12.20 km-long GMLR project, divided into four phases, is designed to reduce travel time between Mumbai's eastern and western suburbs from 75 minutes to 25 minutes. The project is expected to save time and fuel for commuters while cutting carbon emissions by an estimated 22,400 tonne annually. It will also ease traffic congestion in North Mumbai and reduce travel distance by approximately 8.80 km compared to the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR), contributing to better air quality.
Phase III of the project covers a total length of 6.65 km. Phase 3(A) involves the construction of a flyover and elevated rotary, while Phase 3(B) includes a 1.22 km-long triple-lane box tunnel constructed using the cut-and-cover method at Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari in Goregaon, as well as the twin tunnels under the national park.
The twin tunnels will be built at depths ranging from 20 to 160 metres and will be interconnected at 300-metre intervals. They will feature advanced infrastructure, including modern lighting, ventilation systems, fire safety mechanisms, CCTV surveillance, and control rooms at both ends. Utility channels will also be included for rainwater drainage and possible future water supply pipelines.
The Maharashtra Government had previously applied for prior approval from the Central Government for construction beneath the protected forest area. After in-principle clearance was granted on 2 January 2024, the final approval under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, was issued on 1 July. Following this, BMC has started implementing the necessary procedures to move forward with the tunnel construction.
News source: Bhaskar English
