BMC Drops Rs 13.29 Bn Elevated Road Plan Due to MMRDA Tunnel Clash

02 Jul 2025 CW Team

The elevated corridor was originally proposed to reduce congestion at the western end of the 17-km Eastern Freeway and to shorten travel time between South Mumbai and the eastern suburbs. Travel from the Freeway to South Mumbai's western parts currently takes up to 50 minutes, and the proposed flyover aimed to reduce this to around 5–7 minutes.

The BMC had awarded the contract for the elevated road to a joint venture between J Kumar Infraprojects and RPS Infraprojects in March last year, with soil testing conducted in November. However, the project has now been shelved due to overlapping alignment with MMRDA’s tunnel, which is being constructed at a depth of 40 metres. The tunnel will include two vehicular lanes and an emergency lane and is being built by Larsen & Toubro at a cost of Rs 70 billion. Initial works such as tunneling, land acquisition, and piling have already commenced.

The elevated road was also expected to pass through highly congested localities such as Sandhurst Road, Masjid Bunder, and Grant Road, potentially causing significant public inconvenience during construction. Land acquisition and relocation challenges were also considered major hurdles. In contrast, the underground tunnel avoids these surface-level disruptions.

After consultations with MMRDA and traffic authorities, the BMC concluded that the elevated corridor would be redundant given the similar route of the ongoing tunnel project. Although the cancellation has been decided, the BMC has yet to complete the formal termination process due to unresolved legal matters, as the contract had already been awarded and preliminary work had started.

News source: Free Press Journal

"Join industry leaders at RAHSTA Expo, India's premier platform for roads, highways and traffic infrastructure. Register now to explore innovations, network with experts and shape the future of mobility."

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to cancel its Rs 13.29-billion plan to construct a 5.6-km elevated road corridor from Orange Gate on the Eastern Freeway to Grant Road in South Mumbai. The decision was taken due to an alignment conflict with a 6.52-km underground twin tunnel currently being developed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) between Orange Gate and Marine Drive.The elevated corridor was originally proposed to reduce congestion at the western end of the 17-km Eastern Freeway and to shorten travel time between South Mumbai and the eastern suburbs. Travel from the Freeway to South Mumbai's western parts currently takes up to 50 minutes, and the proposed flyover aimed to reduce this to around 5–7 minutes.The BMC had awarded the contract for the elevated road to a joint venture between J Kumar Infraprojects and RPS Infraprojects in March last year, with soil testing conducted in November. However, the project has now been shelved due to overlapping alignment with MMRDA’s tunnel, which is being constructed at a depth of 40 metres. The tunnel will include two vehicular lanes and an emergency lane and is being built by Larsen & Toubro at a cost of Rs 70 billion. Initial works such as tunneling, land acquisition, and piling have already commenced.The elevated road was also expected to pass through highly congested localities such as Sandhurst Road, Masjid Bunder, and Grant Road, potentially causing significant public inconvenience during construction. Land acquisition and relocation challenges were also considered major hurdles. In contrast, the underground tunnel avoids these surface-level disruptions.After consultations with MMRDA and traffic authorities, the BMC concluded that the elevated corridor would be redundant given the similar route of the ongoing tunnel project. Although the cancellation has been decided, the BMC has yet to complete the formal termination process due to unresolved legal matters, as the contract had already been awarded and preliminary work had started.News source: Free Press Journal

Infrastructure Energy

25 Jun 2026

Centre Prioritising Energy Security With Coal Gasification

Union minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy said the Centre is prioritising energy security through a strategic shift to coal gasification and has announced incentives totalling Rs 460 billion (bn) to support the effort. He said more than 35 companies will start coal gasification activities in India within two months and that the government is encouraging firms that bring technology to close the domestic technology gap. The minister described the initiative as aimed at reducing import dependence and developing indigenous capacity. India has the fifth-largest coal reserve in the world, and..

Infrastructure Urban

25 Jun 2026

BHEL and Coal India Invest Rs 250 bn in Odisha Gasification

Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) and Coal India (CIL) are jointly investing Rs 250 billion in a coal gasification project in Odisha, with the Prime Minister laying the foundation stone in Jharsuguda. Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy described the initiative as a transformative shift in coal utilisation that will open industrial avenues for the state. The project moves coal beyond conventional power generation to industrial feedstocks. Coal gasification will convert coal into synthesis gas, a versatile feedstock for chemicals, fertilisers and synthetic fuels, and the technology is ex..

Infrastructure Energy

25 Jun 2026

BCCL Hands Over Dugdha Coal Washery To JSW Steel

Bharat Coking Coal has handed over the Dugdha Coal Washery to JSW Steel, marking the first coal washery asset monetisation under the Ministry of Coal's asset monetisation programme. The handover took place in the presence of senior officials from Bharat Coking Coal Ltd, JSW Steel and JSW Energy. The washery has a capacity of two million tonnes per annum (mn t per annum), and its transfer is intended to introduce private sector practices into coal beneficiation operations. The monetisation is aimed at modernising coal sector assets, improving operational efficiency and enhancing resource utilis..