The Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) Project in Mumbai has gained pace with the excavation of the ‘launching shaft’ progressing rapidly at Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari in Goregaon, the BMC said on Friday.
An official statement said that the ongoing works were inspected by Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar, who instructed officials to ensure the project is completed within the set timeline.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is executing the massive infrastructure project, which will connect Mumbai’s eastern and western suburbs through twin underground tunnels.
The tunnels, each 5.3 kilometres long with three lanes, will be excavated using two advanced Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs).
All parts of one TBM, imported from Japan in 77 containers, have arrived at the site and are being assembled at Josh Maidan in Goregaon. The second TBM is expected to reach the site by December 2025, with assembly work scheduled to finish by October 2026. The tunnelling is expected to begin by August 2026, giving the project a major boost, according to the Mumbai civic body.
The launching shaft, which will serve as the entry point for the TBMs, measures 200 metres long, 50 metres wide, and 30 metres deep. Excavation has already reached a depth of 10 metres, and rock anchoring work is being carried out to prevent wall collapse. Work is continuing 24 hours a day, seven days a week to meet the target completion date of December 2028.
According to officials, once completed, the twin tunnels — each with an outer diameter of 14.42 metres — will be among the largest ever constructed in Mumbai. The full tunnel length, including connecting passages, will extend to 6.62 kilometres.
Speaking after his site visit, Abhijit Bangar said the GMLR project will provide a crucial fourth link between Mumbai’s eastern and western suburbs, significantly reducing travel time and traffic congestion. The new corridor will connect Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari to Mulund, and ultimately link the Mumbai Coastal Road and Malad Mindspace area to Airoli, offering a signal-free, congestion-free travel route.
Bangar stated that the project will greatly benefit daily commuters and ease traffic pressure across northern Mumbai.
