Bids Open for New Gaimukh – Fountain Hotel Tunnel Project in Mumbai

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has announced an invitation for bids concerning the construction of a 5.5 km underground road tunnel that will link Gaimukh (Thane) with Fountain Hotel Junction (Bhayandar) in northern Mumbai.

This tunnel is part of a larger initiative aimed at alleviating traffic congestion on Ghodbunder Road (MH SH 42) by improving a 15.5 km corridor from Gaimukh to Bhayandar. The other significant element of this project is the development of an elevated roadway extending from Fountain Hotel Junction to Bhayandar.

Currently, detailed specifications of the tunnel, such as the number of lanes and internal diameter, are not fully disclosed. It is anticipated that a major tunnel boring machine (TBM) will be used for its construction.

The comprehensive road project, with an estimated budget of Rs 20,000 crore, was recently approved by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra during an executive meeting held by MMRDA.

Tender Details:

• Contract Duration: 54 months (including time for environmental and other clearances, plus the monsoon season), followed by a 24-month defect liability period
• Pre-Bid Meeting: August 8, 2024, at 11 am
• Bid Submission Deadline: September 19, 2024, at 6 PM
• Technical Bid Opening: September 20, 2024, at 6 PM
• Scope of Work: Design and construction of an underground road tunnel from Gaimukh to Fountain Hotel Junction along Thane Ghodbunder Road

Given the narrow, winding nature of Ghodbunder Road, which becomes especially congested with trucks at night, this project is highly anticipated. There was an opportunity for MMRDA to integrate this project with the Mumbai Metro’s 9.2 km Line-10 (part of the Green Line), which is planned to traverse the same area.

Upon completion, this new tunnel will connect with the forthcoming 13.2 km Thane Coastal Road project, which will have its northern terminus at Gaimukh. Additionally, a new bridge, the Gaimukh – Payegaon Creek Bridge, is planned to further facilitate traffic flow and enhance connectivity to the 126 km Virar-Alibaug Multi-Modal Corridor.

This tunnel will become the third road tunnel in the vicinity of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP). The existing and planned tunnels in the area are:

• 5.5 km Gaimukh – Fountain Hotel Junction Tunnel
• 10.8 km Borivali – Thane Tunnel
• 6.3 km Goregaon Mulund Link Road Tunnel