Marine Drive set for fresh reclamation as MMRDA plans road widening for Orange Gate tunnel

According to MMRDA officials, without widening the road, traffic from the tunnel could create bottlenecks on the existing carriageway.

“The road widening is being done to ensure that the existing road capacity remains intact and to meet future traffic needs. At least three lanes in each direction between Marine Drive and Girgaum Chowpatty need to be maintained. The proposal will help ensure smooth traffic movement and better integration of the tunnel with the existing road network,” an MMRDA official said.

Under the proposal, five lanes will be added onto the stretch, leaving the seaside carriageway with four lanes and inner carriageway with three lanes, and six earmarked for the tunnel. While part of the existing promenade will be absorbed into the expanded roadway, the reclamation will also create space for a broader promenade along the stretch.

The proposal has been submitted to the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) as the site falls within the Coastal Regulation Zone. Environmental and coastal clearances for the road widening, as well as approvals for the tunnel project, are awaited.

The Orange Gate-Marine Drive tunnel, estimated to cost over Rs 8,056 crore, is aimed at providing a direct east-west link across South Mumbai. Excavation of the twin tunnels is currently underway from the Orange Gate end, with the project slated for completion in 2028.