India to Build World’s Longest Road Tunnel, Linking Mumbai to Delhi in 12 Hours
Mumbai, 16th July 2024: A transformative infrastructure project is set to revolutionize travel between Mumbai and Delhi with the introduction of a new tunnel. This tunnel, located beneath the Matheran hills, will drastically reduce travel time between the two cities to just 12 hours. Starting from Morbe village near Panvel and extending to Bhoj village near Ambernath in Thane district, the 4 km tunnel forms a crucial part of the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway.
Spanning 1350 km, this tunnel is slated to become the world’s longest road tunnel and will connect Delhi to the JNPT port in Uran. A notable feature includes an eight-lane, 4.39 km section passing through Matheran’s eco-sensitive zone, aiming to cut travel time from Badlapur to Panvel from one and a half hours to just 15 minutes over a 38 km stretch.
Construction of the tunnel, expected to be completed by 2025 for INR 1,453 crores, has commenced from Badlapur in Thane district. The project, with a total estimated cost of INR 1 lakh crore, has received approvals from the Environment Department and is being undertaken by IRCON Company under the National Highway Authority.
This ambitious initiative is poised to significantly reduce the current 24-hour road travel time between Mumbai and Delhi to 12 hours, marking a substantial enhancement in India’s transportation infrastructure.
In parallel, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has unveiled plans for a subway tunnel and an elevated road to alleviate traffic congestion in Thane. The subway tunnel, spanning from Vasai’s Fountain Hotel Naka to Thane’s Gaymukh, along with an elevated road from Fountain Hotel to Bhayander, is projected to cost INR 20 thousand crore. These developments aim to ease traffic bottlenecks in Ghodbunder and enhance connectivity across Thane, Vasai, Virar, Mira, and Bhayander.
Currently, 25% of the construction work on the tunnel linking Badlapur to the JNPT Vadodara highway has been completed. Once finished, this infrastructure initiative will not only expedite travel between Badlapur and Panvel but also provide direct access to Baroda and JNPT, ushering in a new era for India’s transport network.
