Mumbai: Work on the first of two three-lane tunnels being constructed under Sanjay Gandhi National Park as part of Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project has begun, with the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) having excavated 9 metres so far.The 5.3-km twin tunnels will connect Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari in Goregaon East with Amar Nagar in Mulund West. The tunnels are being constructed under Phase 3(B) of GMLR using a TBM named Tulsi. The first TBM was commissioned on Aug 17. The total end-to-end length of GMLR starting from Western Express Highway in Goregaon up to Eastern Express Highway in Mulund is proposed to be over 12 km. Once completed, GMLR is expected to establish a direct connection between Western Express Highway and Eastern Express Highway. BMC estimates that the project could reduce travel time between the eastern and western suburbs from around 90 minutes to 20 minutes, besides easing congestion on existing roads. The civic body has said the link will also improve emergency response times, facilitate commercial and industrial traffic and reduce the overall pressure on Mumbai’s road network.Additional municipal commissioner Abhijit Bangar inspected the site on Wednesday and reviewed the excavation process, progress and technical aspects of the work. Officials were directed to take measures to maintain the excavation pace and deploy additional manpower if required. Bangar also directed that safety protocols be strictly followed during the tunnelling work.Assembly of the second TBM is 70% complete and has been scheduled for completion by Sept 30. A Site Acceptance Test (SAT) will begin on Oct 1 after installation of the machine at the site. The test will assess the machine’s functioning, safety systems and integration of its various components.Excavation of the second tunnel will be taken up after the SAT and related preparations are completed. The twin tunnels are a key component of GMLR, which will provide an east-west link between Goregaon and Mulund, including a route beneath the national park.
