Plans for third tunnel in city

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is now planning to open yet another tunnel to improve connectivity to the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is now planning to open yet another tunnel to improve connectivity to the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).

HT Image

The planning body has proposed to build a third underground tunnel, which will take traffic from the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to the mouth of the Bandra-Worli sea link bypassing the busy Kalanagar junction.

The tunnel will become Mumbai’s first underground intersection.

As reported by HT on November 18, the MMRDA was earlier contemplating building two tunnels to ease traffic woes near BKC. A 1,142-m tunnel was to start from Block E of the BKC till the Kherwadi Junction, which will take traffic to the suburbs. The second underpass of 601m is to be build from the mouth of the sea link to BKC, which will bring traffic from south Mumbai to BKC.

In a recent meeting held with the chief minister in early November, however, the MMRDA said it would want to build another 454m underground tunnel. “We are contemplating a third tunnel, which will take traffic from the BKC to the sea link,” said metropolitan commissioner Rahul Asthana.

The cost of building all the three tunnels will be Rs370 crore and the MMRDA has already asked a consultant to undertake a study on the project.

At present, nearly 29,861 vehicles enter the BKC through the Kalanagar junction. Out of this, 36% come from the sea link, 32% from the Western Express Highway and 32% from Dharavi.

However, all these vehicles have to face heavy traffic jams at Kalanagar.

The stretch from Kala Nagar Junction till Kherwadi, is one of the most congested roads in Mumbai. Traffic from BKC, the sea link, Mahim Causeway and Dr Ambedkar Road converges on this stretch.

Also, the MMRDA said that with the number of vehicles in BKC increasing substantially in the next few years, it has to improve the area’s infrastructure to maintain the business district’s unique stature in the city.