In a significant development, works on the 10.25 km long Thane-Borivali underground twin tunnel project could begin before monsoon, reports stated.
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has floated tenders in two packages. MMRDA Commissioner SVR Srinivas said, “We have invited tenders in two packages for the twin tunnels. This project will be a suitable option to reach the Mumbai metropolitan region.
Tenders for this project were invited on January 14, 2023, and the last date for submission of tenders is 4 April. The project will be constructed at an estimated cost of over INR 11,000 crores and the twin tunnel will reduce travel time as it will help in reducing traffic congestion on Ghodbunder Road in Thane.
The 11.8-km-long route will include two three-lane tunnels built under the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) from Tikuji-ni-Wadi in Thane to Borivali's Western Express Highway (WEH).
Considering that the tunnel will pass through SGNP, MMRDA will take special precautions to avoid harming the biodiversity of the park by using boring machines to avoid disturbance to flora and fauna. The tunnel is expected to be completed in five and a half years from the time of tender.
There will be cross tunnels every 300 meters and the design will allow vehicles to travel at a speed of 80 km per hour.
There will also be drainage systems, smoke detectors and jet fans. Special measures will be taken to keep the air in the compressed tunnel clean and fresh.
This route will reduce the 60 minutes travel time between Thane and Borivali to 15 to 20 minutes and save 10.5 lakh metric tonnes of fuel.
This initiative will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 36 per cent.
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