Tunnelling work for the ambitious 9.23-km underground road corridor linking Orange Gate on the Eastern Freeway to Marine Drive is set to begin today with the launch of a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), marking a major milestone for one of Mumbai’s most complex urban infrastructure projects.

The project, with an estimated cost of Rs 8,056 crore and a completion period of 54 months, involves the design and construction of a nearly 10-km corridor, including around 7 km of underground road. It aims to significantly enhance east-west connectivity, reduce travel time by 15–20 minutes, cut fuel consumption, and help lower air and noise pollution.