Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has set a firm deadline—every public infrastructure project in the state must be completed within three years of starting.
This strong message came during a review meeting on the much-anticipated Thane to Borivali twin tunnel, which is now scheduled for completion by December 2028.
According to Free Press Journal, the meeting, held at the Cabinet Hall of Vidhan Bhavan, saw attendance from Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and senior officials. The CM stressed that the tunnel project must stay on schedule and meet safety and environmental standards.
Tunnel Details and Planning
The twin tunnel will stretch over 11.84 kilometres, easing the pressure on current traffic routes between Thane and Borivali. One of the key instructions from CM Fadnavis was to ensure proper ventilation inside the tunnels. For this, additional land will be acquired from Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
He also asked the forest department to fast-track second-phase clearances, including approval for night-time construction work.
Rehabilitation in One Month
To speed up progress on the Borivali side, Fadnavis called for the rehabilitation of affected residents to be completed within one month. The government plans to either provide housing or pay rental compensation to displaced families. A dedicated officer will oversee the entire process.
The CM further instructed that all required land for Adani and Tata Power projects in Borivali must be acquired swiftly. The Adani Power Company has been asked to finalise road planning for underground power transmission lines linked to the project.
Project Cost and Benefits
The twin tunnel will be constructed in two packages—5.75 km from Borivali and 6.09 km from Thane. The estimated cost stands at Rs 12,057 crore. Upon completion, the tunnel will cut travel time from 75 minutes to just 15 minutes, reduce fuel consumption, and lower carbon emissions by 1.4 lakh metric tonnes annually.
With this ambitious plan and a tight deadline, Mumbai commuters can look forward to faster, greener travel by end of 2028.