Goregaon-Mulund Link Road: Latest Progress, Tunnel Construction and Impact on Mumbai Connectivity

Mumbai’s growing population and expanding commercial districts have increased the demand for faster and more reliable road connectivity across the city. The Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) is a major infrastructure project designed to improve east-west movement between Mumbai’s western and eastern suburbs.

The project is particularly significant because it involves a twin-tunnel road section beneath Sanjay Gandhi National Park. By improving connectivity between Goregaon and Mulund, the road is intended to provide another important route across a city where travel times can be affected by congestion, limited east-west corridors and high traffic volumes.

As of October 2026, tunnel excavation is underway, marking a significant stage in the project’s development.

What is the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road project?
The Goregaon-Mulund Link Road is a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) infrastructure initiative intended to connect Goregaon East with Mulund West.

Its most technically demanding component is a pair of parallel tunnels passing beneath Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The tunnel section connects Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari, commonly known as Film City, in Goregaon East with Amar Nagar in Mulund West.

According to recent project updates, the twin tunnels are planned to be approximately 5.30 kilometres long each, with three lanes in each tunnel. The route is expected to strengthen the road network between the eastern and western suburbs while providing an alternative to existing travel corridors.

Latest construction progress in October 2026
Tunnel construction is progressing through specialised tunnel-boring machinery.

The first tunnel-boring machine, named Tulsi, began operating on 17 August 2026. By the October update, it had completed 183 metres of excavation. The machine had been advancing at an average rate of approximately 5.5 metres per day, according to the reported project figures.

The second tunnel-boring machine, Vihar, has completed its site acceptance test. This testing process checks whether the machinery meets the prescribed technical requirements before excavation begins. The BMC was expecting excavation of the second tunnel to commence by the end of October 2026.

Projects Today

The construction process also involves installing permanent ring segments that reinforce the tunnel lining. The reported progress included 87 permanent ring segments and six temporary ring segments.

These milestones matter because tunnel excavation is only one part of the construction process. Structural lining, machinery performance, worker safety, ventilation, drainage, emergency systems and integration with the connecting roads all influence the eventual readiness of the infrastructure.
Why does the project matter for Mumbai?

1. Better east-west connectivity

Mumbai’s road network faces geographical and planning constraints that can make cross-city journeys difficult. The GMLR is designed to strengthen links between the eastern and western suburbs, offering an additional route for commuters and commercial traffic.

2. Potential reduction in travel time

An additional corridor could reduce dependence on existing roads and help distribute traffic more efficiently. However, the actual time saved will depend on the final road connections, traffic management, junction capacity and the volume of vehicles using the route.

Travel-time savings should therefore be treated as a potential benefit until supported by official estimates or post-opening data.

3. Support for economic activity

Improved road connectivity can help workers reach employment centres, businesses manage deliveries and service providers access a wider area. Better connections may also influence commercial activity and development around accessible transport corridors.

4. Improved transport-network resilience

A city with multiple effective routes has more options when congestion, accidents or roadworks disrupt a particular corridor. The GMLR could contribute to this broader network resilience.
Environmental and engineering considerations
The tunnels beneath Sanjay Gandhi National Park make environmental management a central consideration.

Construction must be monitored for its effects on the surrounding ecosystem, groundwater conditions, noise, vibration and the integrity of the underground structure. Tunnel engineering also requires careful management of geological conditions and water ingress.

The use of tunnel-boring machinery allows excavation through a controlled engineering process, but it does not eliminate environmental or safety risks. Monitoring, regulatory compliance and construction-quality checks remain essential.

The project’s long-term performance will also depend on appropriate ventilation, emergency exits, lighting, drainage and traffic-control systems.

What is the next milestone?
The immediate construction milestone is the commencement of excavation by the second tunnel-boring machine. Beyond that, progress will depend on excavation rates, tunnel-lining work, construction of connecting infrastructure and the completion of associated road sections.

A related milestone has already been reported: a 1.26-kilometre flyover connecting Dindoshi Court with Dadasaheb Phalke Film City was completed under Phase 3 of the project. This is an important component of the broader road network, although it should not be confused with completion of the entire GMLR.

The Goregaon-Mulund Link Road represents an important investment in Mumbai’s east-west transport infrastructure. The commencement of tunnel excavation and the preparation of the second tunnel-boring machine indicate that the project is progressing through a key engineering phase.

Its ultimate value will be measured by more than the kilometres of road constructed. Reliable connectivity, safe operations, effective traffic integration and responsible environmental management will determine how much the project improves daily mobility across Mumbai.