GMLR project cost rises by Rs 2.47 billion due to tunnel realignment

05 Sep 2024 CW Team

The GMLR project, a key infrastructure initiative, includes twin tunnels that will traverse the Sanjay Gandhi National Park?s diverse landscape of hills, forests, and farmlands. The realignment is prompted by objections from local tribal communities in Habale pada and Nagarmudi pada, who raised concerns about the impact of the tunnel construction on their livelihoods.

To address these concerns, the BMC has decided to shift the tunnel launch point 600 meters away from the original location in Habale pada. The proposed realignment will be reviewed by experts from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) to ensure its feasibility.

A BMC official stated, ?We will begin construction by using a tunnel boring machine (TBM) and have obtained permission from Film City for the revised tunnel location. The realignment, necessitated by local objections, will increase the project cost by Rs 2.47 billion. The original tunnel cost was Rs 63.01 billion, with the total GMLR project estimated at Rs 85 billion.?

The cost escalation has drawn criticism from opposition leaders, including Ravi Raja, former Congress corporator, who has questioned the justification for the additional Rs 2.5 billion expense. Raja also expressed concerns about the contractor, Singla Pvt Ltd, and called for stringent external oversight by agencies like IIT.

The TBM will be assembled near the site, with tunnel construction expected to start in April 2025. The GMLR, connecting Goregaon in the western suburbs with Mulund in the eastern suburbs, will be approximately 12.2 km long, with the tunnels forming a 4.7 km portion of the third phase. The project is scheduled for completion by October 2028.

(The Indian Express)

"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) plans to realign the 4.7 km twin tunnels of the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) by 600 meters, resulting in a Rs 2.47 billion increase in the project?s cost. The total estimated cost for the tunnel project, initially set at Rs 63.01 billion, has faced criticism from opposition parties. The GMLR project, a key infrastructure initiative, includes twin tunnels that will traverse the Sanjay Gandhi National Park?s diverse landscape of hills, forests, and farmlands. The realignment is prompted by objections from local tribal communities in Habale pada and Nagarmudi pada, who raised concerns about the impact of the tunnel construction on their livelihoods. To address these concerns, the BMC has decided to shift the tunnel launch point 600 meters away from the original location in Habale pada. The proposed realignment will be reviewed by experts from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) to ensure its feasibility. A BMC official stated, ?We will begin construction by using a tunnel boring machine (TBM) and have obtained permission from Film City for the revised tunnel location. The realignment, necessitated by local objections, will increase the project cost by Rs 2.47 billion. The original tunnel cost was Rs 63.01 billion, with the total GMLR project estimated at Rs 85 billion.? The cost escalation has drawn criticism from opposition leaders, including Ravi Raja, former Congress corporator, who has questioned the justification for the additional Rs 2.5 billion expense. Raja also expressed concerns about the contractor, Singla Pvt Ltd, and called for stringent external oversight by agencies like IIT. The TBM will be assembled near the site, with tunnel construction expected to start in April 2025. The GMLR, connecting Goregaon in the western suburbs with Mulund in the eastern suburbs, will be approximately 12.2 km long, with the tunnels forming a 4.7 km portion of the third phase. The project is scheduled for completion by October 2028. (The Indian Express)

Resources

26 Jun 2026

G R Infraprojects Founder Vinod Agarwal Passes Away

Vinod Kumar Agarwal, Founder and Promoter of G R Infraprojects, has passed away. He had been associated with the company since its inception in 1995. His vision, determination and entrepreneurial acumen laid the foundation for the company and helped shape its growth into a leading name in India’s infrastructure sector.Agarwal served as Managing Director from 2008 to 2021 and later as Chairman and Whole-time Director from 2021 to 2025. He stepped down from the office of Director on 10 November 2025. During his leadership tenure, the company moved through significant phases of growth, operatio..

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..