Mumbai: SGNP succumbs to Thane-Borivli twin tunnel project

Controversial Thane-Borivli twin tube road tunnel approved; will reduce the travel time between the eastern and western suburbs as environmental activists lose battle

Mumbai's last green cover, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), is finally breached! Greens lose the battle as construction of the Rs 16,600 crore Thane-Borivli twin tube road tunnel under SGNP receives approval from the National Board of Wildlife. The 11.8 km road, with a 10.25 km tunnel, will join the city’s east and west suburbs.

Taking the project one step closer to reality, the National Board of Wildlife has approved the Thane-Borivli Twin Tunnel that will pass below Sanjay Gandhi National Park.

The construction of the Rs 16,600 crore twin tube tunnel proposed between Thane and Borivli under the national park, will create a direct connection between the Western Express Highway on the Borivli side and Eastern Express Highway through Ghodbunder Road on the Thane side.

According to the plan, the construction of the project is scheduled in three packages. Package 1 will consist of a tunnel on the Borivli side with a length of 5.75 km, while Package 2 will involve a tunnel on the Thane side with a length of 6.05 km. In Package 3, the contractor will be responsible for procurement, installation, and commissioning of electrical and mechanical systems, ventilation systems, fire systems, etc.

The total length of the tunnel is 11.8 km, with 10.25 km and 1.55 km as the approach road. The tunnel’s outer diameter is 13.05 m (2 tunnels each of 2 lanes + one emergency lane), with cross passages after every 300 m.

Special measures will be taken to ensure that the air within the constricted tunnel remains clean and fresh. Provisions will also include a drainage system, smoke detectors, and jet fans.

The tunnel road reduces the distance by 12 km, allowing motorists to save about one hour. This will be a major breakthrough because people will have the opportunity to save a lot of time and money in terms of fuel costs every time they travel using this road.

Environmentalist Debi Goenka criticized MMRDA and tweeted, “#destroyingSGNP It’s a pity MMRDA can’t do anything without destroying our environment. Better alternatives exist.”

Green activist Zoru Bhathena said, “We need to ensure that it is built right, with no surface entry-exit points in the National Park areas. That’s all we need to ensure that the natural areas are protected.”

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Time that will be saved travelling from Borvli to Thane

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