Recently, the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) approved the proposed extension of the Orange Gate-Marine Drive tunnel. As per the MMRDA officials, the tunnel will connect the Eastern Freeway and Atal Setu to the Coastal Road. Scroll down to read more about it.
Mumbai Approves Extension Of Orange Gate
As per a report by the Hindustan Times, the underground tunnel was earlier planned to end at Maratha Bhavan on Marine Drive but will now extend and terminate near the PM Hindu Swimming Bath & Boat Club, also known as Mafatlal Swimming Pool, near Girgaon Chowpatty. MMRDA told the portal that the tunnel’s endpoint is being pushed further north based on a recommendation by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The main reason behind the extension is to avoid traffic congestion along the Queen’s Necklace.
The ₹7,500-crore project got Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance back on March 7, 2024. As per reports, the right-side alignment was to be 3.547 km long, and the left side was to be 5.687 km long. However, design changes emerged during the plan execution. As per the new design, the revised length of the right-side alignment is 4.6 km, and the left side is 4.9 km.
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More About Marine-Drive Orange Tunnel
The project aims to reduce traffic at P. D’Mello Junction and provide better East-West connectivity across the city. It includes two tunnels, starting at the Eastern Freeway, with one exit planned at the Mumbai Coastal Road near Saifee Hospital. As per the current traffic projections, the tunnel’s approved design would result in significant vehicular congestion at Marine Drive due to a rise in tunnel exit traffic. Additionally, the existing lanes will not be able to handle this surge in traffic.
Hence, to accommodate the expected rise in traffic, expanding the existing Marine Drive lane configuration, with four lanes towards Nariman Point and four lanes towards P. D’Mello Road and MbPT parking were proposed, which have now been approved.
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Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
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