Canadian Tunnel Technology Delegation Reviews Mumbai Coastal Road and GMLR Projects

Experts Study Tunnelling Methods, Ventilation Innovation and Environmental Approvals During BMC Briefing

A Canadian Tunnel Technologies Delegation visited Mumbai on 2 December 2025 to study the engineering and advanced tunnelling systems used in three of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) flagship infrastructure projects — the Dharmaveer Swarajyarakshak Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Mumbai Coastal Road (South), the Mumbai Coastal Road (North), and the Goregaon–Mulund Link Road (GMLR).

During a detailed presentation held at the Emergency Management Department hall in the BMC headquarters, officials briefed the delegation on technological innovations, construction challenges and progress across all three mega projects. The Canadian team is on a visit to India from 1 to 5 December 2025, specifically to observe infrastructure initiatives where tunnel-based systems have been deployed.

The delegation included Sandeep Singh (Head, Tunnelling Division, Tunnelling Association of India), John Habimana (Representative, Tunnelling Association of Canada), Liao Haixu (Vector Technology Ltd), Fahmi Aminuddin (Orica Digital Solutions), Dr Manoj Verman (Rockscience), and Yoachim Rocha (Trade Commissioner, Government of Canada), among others.

Representing the BMC were Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) Dr Amit Saini, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Special Engineering) Purushottam Malwade, Chief Engineer (Coastal Road South) Mantayya Swamy, Executive Engineer (Coastal Road North) Vaibhav Gandhi and engineers associated with the GMLR project.

Officials explained that the Saccardo ventilation system, used in the Mumbai Coastal Road (South) tunnels, has been deployed for the first time in India. The delegation studied how this system functions and enquired about the challenges faced during the excavation of two independent underground tunnels. Members also discussed the possibility of installing future sensor-based monitoring systems within the tunnels to assess long-term construction integrity.

The team also reviewed progress on the Goregaon–Mulund Link Road (GMLR) and the planning framework for the Mumbai Coastal Road (North). Through a detailed question–answer session, they examined the multiple departmental permissions obtained for GMLR, and how environmental safeguards are being implemented to maintain ecological balance.

Later, the delegation visited the Mumbai Coastal Road (South) site, where they inspected the underground tunnels, cross passages, pedestrian pathways and ventilation corridors. The experts praised the engineering quality and the scale of the project.