Thane-Borivali Underground Route Expenditure Increased By Rs 5,000 Crore

Thane, 23rd March 2023: The cost of the Thane-Borivali underground route (Twin Tunnel) undertaken by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has gone up from Rs 11,235.43 crore to Rs 16,600 crore to reach Thane from Borivali in just 20 minutes. The increased cost was approved in the meeting of the authority. Now the work on the underground line is likely to start in June.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has assigned the project to MMRDA. Initially, the cost of the project was Rs 11,235.43 crore. However, now it has gone up to Rs 16,600.40 crore. The expenditure has increased by five thousand crore rupees, and the authority has approved the proposal. According to this proposal, MMRDA has made many changes to the original plan, and the cost has increased. A senior officer of MMRDA also confirmed it.

MSRDC had prepared a cost balance by including only an 11.8 km long tunnel in the plan. But, MMRDA made many changes to implement the project. A flyover of approximately 700 meters will be constructed on Ghodbunder Road towards Thane to facilitate access to the tunnel. Approximately 500 meters of the subway will be constructed here, as well as 850 meters of subway towards Borivali. This has led to a huge increase in the cost of the project.

A modern fire fighting system, electrical system and ‘open road tolling’ system will be implemented in the tunnel while constructing the flyover and subway. Also, the double tunnel will have pedestrian cross passages every 300 meters. Officials said that the cost of the project has also increased due to this.

While making structural changes in the project, MMRDA has also thought in terms of speeding up the work by using the latest technology. Now, instead of two, four TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) machines will be used for undergrounding. The work of this underground route will be done in two phases and tenders have been floated for its construction. These tenders will be opened on 4th April. After completing this process, the work will be started in June. MMRDA is planning to complete this work in five years.

The Borivali-Thane twin tunnel project will be done in three phases. In the first phase, the Borivali side tunnel will be constructed and in the second phase, the Thane side tunnel will be constructed. In the third phase, the toll system and other work will be done. MMRDA is planning to complete this project in five years.