Orange Gate to Marine Drive in just 5 minutes: Here’s how new tunnel project could transform connectivity in Mumbai

Orange Gate-Marine Drive twin tunnels

As per MMRDA, the Eastern Freeway-linking Mankhurd to Chembur Junction and Orange Gate on P’Dimello Road, has significantly improved connectivity to South Mumbai. However, rising traffic at Orange Gate has emerged as a major challenge for the Mumbai Port Trust and the General Post Office (GPO) junction on P’Dimello Marg.

Therefore, to address these challenges and enable a seamless road-based transit system, the construction of this new tunnel project has become necessary.

The project involves the construction of twin tunnels spanning over 7 km. The first tunnel, currently under construction, spans 3.45 km and reaches depths of up to 52 metres. It passes beneath the Central and Western Railway corridors as well as Mumbai Metro Line 3 with a high degree of safety and engineering precision.

Orange Gate-Marine Drive tunnel map (Image: MMRDA/Photo enhanced with AI)

Orange Gate-Marine Drive twin tunnel project: Significance

Once complete, the Orange Gate-Marine Drive tunnel project will reduce travel time to just 5 minutes. It will not only provide seamless connnectivity between East and West coasts of South Mumbai but also enable direct integration with the Coastal Road and Atal Setu. The infrastructure project will also reduce congestion, fuel consumption and emissions.