GMLR project cost to go up by Rs 247 crore as BMC is set to realign twin tunnels
A significant portion of the ambitious GMLR project, in which the twin tunnels will pass beneath the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, cover a complex topography of hillocks, forest and farmlands.
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The stark jump in the tunnel project cost--which had been pegged at Rs 6,301 crore--has drawn criticism from the opposition. (File Photo)Amid objections raised by locals residing in hamlets tucked within Aarey’s Film City, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to realign the 4.7 km twin tunnels of the ambitious Goregaon-Mulund Link Road project (GMLR) by 600 metres, escalating the cost of the project by Rs 247 crore. The stark jump in the tunnel project cost–which had been pegged at Rs 6,301 crore–has drawn criticism from the opposition.
A significant part of the ambitious GMLR project, the proposed twin tunnels will pass beneath the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, covering a complex topography of hillocks, forest and farmlands. However, in what had prompted the BMC to mull over the realignment of the current proposals, the tribals in the Habale pada and Nagarmudi pada within Film City, which were set to be affected by the construction of the tunnels, had raised concerns over the proposed work and its impact on their livelihoods.
Seeking to surpass the farmlands, the civic body has now charted plans to realign the tunnels by launching the tunnels 600 metres away from the originally proposed spot in Habale pada. According to a senior civic official, the BMC is also slated to get the proposed realignment vetted by experts from the IIT.
Speaking to The Indian Express, a BMC official said, “To commence work on the construction, we are going to launch the tunnels using the tunnel boring machine (TBM). However, the Adivasis in the area had raised objections over the original location. Therefore, we are now planning to launch the tunnels 600 metres ahead, resulting in the realignment. Since the area is situated within film city, we have also taken permission from them. Besides this, we will also have the proposal for realignment vetted by the IIT.”
Owing to the realignment of the tunnels, the cost of the project has spiked by Rs 247 crore, added the official. While the original costs of the tunnel had been pegged at Rs 6,301 crore, the entire GMLR link road was slated to cost Rs 8,500 crore. However, the escalation in project cost has drawn flak from the opposition, who has demanded the civic body to exercise caution.
Taking to social media, Ravi Raja, former Congress corporator wrote, “The tunnels will be realigned by 600 metres, but as expected, the cost has increased significantly. The cost has been revised upward by ₹250 crore, which is difficult to justify. Additionally, the company Singla Pvt Ltd, which has been awarded the contract to build the flyovers on this road, has a tainted past.”
“Provisions should be added to the contract stating that unless the company’s work is stringently checked by reputed external agencies like IIT, a considerable amount of money will not be released,” he added.
Meanwhile, according to officials, the TBM machine will be assembled in the vicinity with the launching of tunnels slated to commence in April 2025. While the overall length of the GMLR connecting Goregaon in the western suburbs with Mulund in the eastern suburbs will be around 12.2 km, the tunnels will be 4.7 km long and will be completed in the third phase of the project.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had performed the Bhoomipujan of tunnel work in July. Meanwhile, BMC has set a deadline of October 2028 for the completion of the twin tunnels.
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