News Brief
MMRDA Secures Loan Of Rs 7,326 Crore For 9.2-km Orange Gate-Marine Drive Tunnel; Project To Ease Traffic Congestion In South Mumbai
Alignment of Marine Drive – Orange Gate tunnel (In Yellow)
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has secured a Rs 7,326 crore loan from the Union Bank of India to fund the ambitious Orange Gate to Marine Drive underground tunnel project, reported The Indian Express.
The 9.2-km road project aims to significantly improve east-west connectivity in South Mumbai and ease traffic congestion in one of the city's busiest corridors.
Key Features of the Project
The project will feature a 6.52-km dual-tunnel system equipped with a dedicated emergency lane to ensure smoother traffic flow.
Once completed, the tunnel will form a ring route for South Mumbai, providing a seamless connection between Orange Gate (Eastern Freeway) and Marine Drive Coastal Road.
This first-of-its-kind urban tunnel in Mumbai will run around 40 meters underground, passing beneath railway lines, Metro corridors, and major city roads.
It will also serve as a crucial extension of the Eastern Freeway, linking it directly to Marine Drive and facilitating a direct traffic route to South Mumbai.
MMRDA has stated that the financial backing will ensure the project remains on schedule, significantly improving urban mobility for Mumbai’s residents.
The underground tunnel will integrate with key transport infrastructure, including the Eastern Freeway, Mumbai Trans Harbour Sealink (MTHL), Coastal Road, and Bandra-Worli Sea Link, providing uninterrupted traffic movement across Mumbai’s eastern and western coasts.
Addressing Traffic Congestion at Orange Gate
A major motivation behind this project is to alleviate the chronic traffic congestion at Orange Gate, a crucial point affecting Mumbai Port Trust operations and Main Post Office Square on PD Mello Marg.
Currently, launching shaft construction is underway, and tunnel boring machines (TBMs) will soon be deployed to commence excavation, according to an MMRDA official cited in the IE report.
