Maharashtra Cabinet Approves ₹17,036 Crore Gaimukh–Bhayandar Tunnel and Elevated Road Corridor on Ghodbunder Road
The Maharashtra Cabinet Infrastructure Committee, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has approved the ₹17,036 crore Gaimukh–Fountain Hotel tunnel and Fountain Hotel–Bhayandar elevated corridor project, aimed at improving road connectivity between western Mumbai and destinations including Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Nashik, Panvel, and National Highway-48.
The road infrastructure package consists of two components. The first is a six-lane, 5.86 km underground tunnel to be constructed between Gaimukh and Fountain Hotel on Ghodbunder Road using Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology with a bore diameter of 14 metres. The second component is a six-lane, 9.58 km elevated corridor connecting Fountain Hotel to Bhayandar, designed to support speeds of up to 100 kmph.
The tunnel component is expected to be completed within five years of commencement. The project is intended to divert a significant volume of traffic — particularly heavy vehicles travelling towards Thane and Gujarat — thereby reducing pressure on existing road networks in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The project will be implemented under the Public-Private Partnership model on a Build-Operate-Transfer basis, with viability gap funding to be provided by both the Central and Maharashtra state governments. Investment size and procurement timelines for the EPC or concession award have not been disclosed.