GMLR tunnel boring reaches 183 metres beneath Sanjay Gandhi National Park

‘Tulsi’, the first of two tunnel-boring machines on the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road, has excavated 183 metres beneath Sanjay Gandhi National Park since beginning work on August 17, the BMC said.

The machine is digging one of two three-lane tunnels planned between Dadasaheb Phalke Film City in Goregaon East and Amar Nagar in Mulund West. It has averaged 5.5 metres of excavation a day, with 87 permanent tunnel rings and six temporary rings installed so far.

The second machine, ‘Vihar’, has completed its site acceptance test and is expected to begin excavation by the end of October. Municipal commissioner Ashwini Bhide, who inspected the site, directed officials to maintain safety standards, manage excavated muck properly and keep the worksite clean.

Elsewhere in Phase 3 of the project, the BMC said construction is complete on a 1.26-km, 3+3-lane flyover from Dindoshi Court to Film City. The wider 12.20-km GMLR is intended to improve east-west travel across Mumbai. The BMC is already pursuing other GMLR works, including a planned cable-stayed flyover audit.