India unveils the longest urban tunnel connecting Barivali and Thane

The foundation stone of the Thane-Barivali Twin Tunnel Project was laid on July 13, 2024 in Mumbai under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Rs 16,600-crore project, which will cost a total of Rs 29,000 crore, is part of a larger plan to improve Mumbai’s infrastructure and aims to make it much easier to move around the city and connect with other places.

Overview of Thane-Barivali Twin Tunnel Project

The Thane-Barivali Twin Tunnels, India’s longest and largest urban tunnel project, is expected to cost Rs 16,600 crore. It is 11.8 km in length and will connect Thane and Borivali through a direct metro line ending at Borivali on NH-8. With two regular lanes and one emergency lane on the road, the journey that used to take more than an hour will be completed in just 12 minutes, reducing the distance by 12 km.

Strategic impact and benefits

The tunnel is not just a way to transport people from one place to another, it is a smart move to help clear the traffic on Ghodbunder Road and Western Express Highway. It aims to improve east-west suburban connectivity by creating faster, more direct routes that will ease travel and decongest the roads.

Environmental and technical details

The tunnel will not affect the nearby Sanjay Gandhi National Park as it is environmentally friendly, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority said. India’s longest tunnel boring machine will be used for the project. It can dig tunnels 10.25 km in length and has cross passages every 300 meters for safety and maintenance. It is also expected to reduce carbon pollution by 150,000 metric tons per year.

About Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

In 1975, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) was formed to plan and supervise all development works in the Mumbai metropolitan area. This was the first step in the construction of the Bandra-Kurla complex, which is now a major commercial centre. In 2014, MMRDA built its first train in Mumbai. Moreover, it is in charge of the Mumbai Metro, which is currently building several lines to help ease commuting. The Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project is also managed by MMRDA, and the Mumbai Trans-Harbor Link has been launched to ease traffic between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

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