CM Fadnavis Clears Rs 22,611-Crore Transport Push For MMR, Approves Ghodbunder Tunnel & Navi Mumbai Metro Expansion

Published 9 June 2026 · local

CM Fadnavis Clears Rs 22,611-Crore Transport Push For MMR, Approves Ghodbunder Tunnel & Navi Mumbai Metro Expansion Reported By, Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 01:33

CM Fadnavis Clears Rs 22,611-Crore Transport Push For MMR, Approves Ghodbunder Tunnel & Navi Mumbai Metro Expansion Reported By, Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 01:33 IST The CM said the new infrastructure will make transportation across Mumbai Metropolitan Region faster, smoother, and more efficient while supporting long-term economic growth The government has approved the construction of a si lane, 5.86-km tunnel between Gaimukh and Fountain Hotel, along with a si lane, 9.58-km elevated road connecting Fountain Hotel and Bhayandar. File pic/PTI The Maharashtra government has cleared infrastructure projects worth Rs 22,611 crore aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), marking one of the biggest transport-focused decisions taken in recent months. The approvals were granted at a meeting of the Cabinet Infrastructure Committee chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Mantralaya on Tuesday. The committee gave the green signal to two major road connectivity projects worth Rs 17,036 crore and Navi Mumbai Metro expansion projects worth Rs 5,575 crore.

At the heart of the decision is a long-awaited plan to decongest the heavily burdened Ghodbunder Road corridor. The government has approved the construction of a si lane, 5.86-km tunnel between Gaimukh and Fountain Hotel, along with a si lane, 9.58-km elevated road connecting Fountain Hotel and Bhayandar. Officials said the project is expected to significantly reduce travel time for commuters travelling between Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Nashik, Panvel and Highway-48. The tunnel will be built using Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology and is expected to be completed in about five years. The elevated road, planned parallel to Vasai Creek, has been designed to support vehicle speeds of up to 100 kmph, offering a faster alternative for long-distance and inter-city traffic. The project is also expected to divert a substantial volume of heavy vehicles away from Ghodbunder Road, one of the most congested transport corridors in the region. The government will implement the road project under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model through a public-private partnership.

Both the Centre and the state government will provide viability gap funding to make the project financially feasible. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has also been granted special planning authority status for the project area. In another major decision, the committee approved CIDCO’s Navi Mumbai Metro Line 1A, connecting Sagar Sangam to CBD Belapur, and Metro Line 2, linking Pendhar with the Navi Mumbai International Airport Terminal-4. Once completed, the expansion will create a seamless 28-km metro corridor stretching from Sagar Sangam to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport. The project includes 13 new stations and is expected to serve nearly 12 lakh passengers daily in the future. Expressing confidence in the projects, Chief Minister Fadnavis said the new infrastructure will make transportation across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region faster, smoother, and more efficient while supporting the region’s long-term economic growth. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Mayuresh Ganapatye Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories.