Mumbai: Goregaon-Mulund link road project proposed in four phases, will have underground twin tunnel

Representational Pic. iStock

The Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) Project being undertaken by the BMC is proposed to constructed in four phases, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.

In an official statement on Saturday, the BMC said, the fourth and the most important East-West link planned for providing the much-needed connectivity for the suburbs. At present the existing road connectivity from east to west of Santacruz - Chembur Link Road , Andheri - Ghatkopar Link Road, Jogeshwari - Vikhroli Link Road are already saturated resulting into traffic congestion and subsequent impact on the environment. The GMLR envisages road connectivity from Western Express Highway at Goregaon in the Western suburb to Eastern Express Highway at Mulund in the Eastern suburb.

It said, the total length of GMLR is 12.2 Km with an underground twin tunnel below Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) of length 4.7 Km. The completion of the GMLR will vastly de-congest the existing road network of the Mumbai's suburbs.

Phase- I: ROB at Nahur Railway station

The first phase consists of widening of ROB at Nahur Railway station from 1 X1 lane to a 4X4 lane with service road. Estimated cost for the work is Rs. 202.3 Crore. The work is in progress and expected date of completion is May 2023.

Phase II: Widening of GMLR

This phase consists of widening and improvement of the existing 30 m wide road on both sides along the alignment of the proposed tunnel, to its full width of 45.70 mts, as per the Development Plan for total length of 5.30 Km. The total cost of this component is Rs.130 crores. The work is in progress and expected date of completion is May 2023.

Also Read: Elevated road from Dahisar to Mira-Bhayander to be completed in 42 months: BMC

Phase IIIA: Improvement of major intersections

This phase consists of Design and Construction of Flyovers and Elevated Rotary along Goregaon-Mulund Link Road at the following-

1. Junction near Ratnagiri Hotel, Goregaon (Length 1.26 Km, Width 24.2 m, 3x3 lane)
2. Elevated Rotary at Junction of G.G. Singh Road and G.M.L.R
3. Hedgewar Junction, Mulund (Length 1.85 Km, Width 24.2 m, 3x3 lane)

The flyover proposed on single pier with prestressed precast segmental box girder having good aesthetical appearance. At Dr. Hedgewar junction cable stayed bridge of 120 m span is proposed with advanced lighting illumination to the cable.

The total cost of this component is Rs.666.06 crores. The work is in progress and expected date of completion is Jan 2025.

Phase IIIB: Tunnel construction

This phase consists of Twin Tunnel below Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) with Box tunnel in Film city, Goregaon.

• Length of twin tunnel- 4.70Km each
• Dia. of Tunnel-13 m internal finish Diameter.
• Approx. Length of Box tunnel within Film city- 1.60Km including open cuts film city side approaches.
• Tunnel depth varying from 20mt to 160 mt Approx
• Mulund side approaches-0.32 Km
• Total Road length- 6.62 Km Approx.
• Cross passages at every 300m.
• Approximate cost of tunnel including cut & cover box tunnel- Rs.6322 Crores
• Two numbers new Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) with shield having advanced technology for tunnel boring.
• Advance Technology for Ventilation and lighting system with electronic surveillance.
• Provision of cameras and a linear heat detection system inside the tunnel to alert the Integrated Tunnel Control Room (ITCR)
• SOS boxes installed every 150 m will act as emergency hotlines for commuters in distress

Tender is floated and work is likely to start from March 2023.

At tunnel portal on Mulund side about 711 structures are affected on plot bearing CTS no.469/3 of village Nahur out of which about 51 structures are commercial structures. The said plot belongs to GoM. In addition, forest department has asked to accommodate about 100 PAPs of national park area as a one of the compliances of wild life NOC.The total cost of this component is Rs.332.71 crores. Seven buildings of G+23 stories are planned for occupying 908 PAP tenements at village Kanjur at LBS marg, Kanjur (West). Work started from Oct 2022.

Phase IV: Arrangements over Eastern and Western Express Highway

It is proposed to start the work of 1.22 km long flyovers with cable stayed span at EEH and underpass over Western Express Highway when the work of underground tunnel is in progress.

Following the completion of the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road project, a new link road will be available for Mumbai metropolitan transport to the western suburbs and eastern suburbs, to the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport and to the Airoli to Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal areas, the BMC said.

The statement further said, the total length of GMLR is 12.20 Km, which includes tunnels of length of 6.3 km, Elevated flyover of 4.37 Km and remaining 1.53 km of at grade road. This link between Eastern Suburbs and Western Suburbs not only decongest the existing traffic of Mumbai Suburbs but also reduce the travel time from 75 min to 20 - 25 min. This will result in fuel saving and will enhance Air Quality Index of Mumbai. This is one of the initiatives of BMC towards improving the standard of living of Mumbai Citizens.