Goregaon–Mulund Link Road Project Gains Momentum as Tunnel Launch Shaft Excavation Accelerates
TBM installation process to begin by March 10, 2026; full-scale tunnelling scheduled from June
Mumbai’s ambitious Goregaon–Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project has entered a critical execution phase, with excavation of the launching shaft progressing rapidly at the Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari (Film City) complex in Goregaon. The shaft is being prepared for the deployment of state-of-the-art Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) that will carve twin underground tunnels connecting the city’s eastern and western suburbs.
The project is being implemented by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, and forms a vital part of Mumbai’s long-term urban mobility strategy.
During an on-site inspection conducted on January 21, 2026, Abhijit Bangar, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects), directed officials and contractors to maintain speed, safety, and construction quality to ensure completion within the stipulated timeline.
Two advanced TBMs will be used for constructing 5.3 km-long, triple-lane twin tunnels under Phase 3(B) of the project. While components of one TBM are already available on-site, the remaining parts of the second TBM are scheduled to arrive by January 22, 2026 (Thursday night).
According to officials, the process of lowering the TBMs into the launch shaft will begin by March 10, 2026, following completion of the first phase of excavation. Actual tunnel boring is planned to commence in June 2026.
Massive Engineering Operation Underway
The launch shaft under construction measures approximately 200 metres in length, 50 metres in width, and 30 metres in depth. Excavation has already reached 23 metres, with rock anchoring deployed to prevent sidewall collapse. Daily excavation currently generates 1,400–1,500 cubic metres of rock and soil, transported using around 120 vehicles per day.
Mr. Bangar instructed teams to expedite the remaining 7 metres of excavation and begin immediate construction of the TBM launching cradle, which is essential for precision alignment during tunnelling.
Once lowered, each TBM will be assembled with three gantries over a three-month period, after which continuous boring operations will begin.
Strategic Urban Impact
The GMLR is a new high-capacity east–west arterial road designed to significantly ease congestion in North Mumbai. Compared to the heavily burdened Jogeshwari–Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR), the new corridor will reduce travel distance by nearly 8.8 kilometres, leading to substantial savings in travel time and fuel consumption.
Beyond traffic relief, the project is expected to cut carbon emissions, improve logistics efficiency, and enhance overall urban resilience.
From an engineering standpoint, the triple-lane box tunnel design is considered highly complex. Each tunnel will have an outer diameter of approximately 14.42 metres, with total underground excavation extending to 6.62 kilometres, including box tunnel sections.
Once completed, the Goregaon–Mulund Link Road is expected to redefine cross-city mobility in Mumbai, offering a faster, cleaner, and more reliable alternative for daily commuters while setting new benchmarks in underground infrastructure development.