Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said Mumbai will see a vast underground network of road tunnels designed to ease longstanding congestion, describing the upcoming system as a “Paatal Lok” — a parallel route network beneath the city.
At the IIMUN’s Youth Connect session, Fadnavis said that the tunnel grid would stretch across multiple directions and operate as a shadow system to arterial routes.
“We are creating a ‘Paatal Lok’, a widespread network of tunnels across Mumbai city for complete decongestion. It will be a parallel network to existing roads,” he said.
According to the minister, the expansion of Metro corridors would work alongside the plan. The coastal road from south Mumbai to Bhayandar would act as an uninterrupted alternative to the Western Express Highway.
“Sixty per cent of Mumbai moves on the Western Expressway. Until you decongest it, there is no solution, we are creating a network of parallel roads…where your average speed will be 80 km per hour.” he said.
Tunnels to link key corridors
Fadnavis detailed ongoing projects, including the Thane–Borivali and Mulund–Goregaon tunnels. “This would improve the east-west connectivity,” he said. A parallel road between Borivali and Goregaon and the Worli–Shivdi connector, expected next year, would allow smoother movement from the Atal Setu to the Bandra–Worli Sea Link.
He said a tunnel linking the Atal Setu to Girgaon Chowpatty via the Eastern Express Highway would be ready in three years. “It will be a solution to the current traffic jams,” he said. A proposed tunnel from Bandra to the Bandra Kurla Complex would improve access to the domestic airport. “From south Mumbai to the domestic airport, people will reach in 20 minutes,” he said.
Fadnavis also said the Mumbai One app has been launched to enable a single ticket for Metro services, suburban trains and BEST buses.
“Nearly 90 lakh people travel daily through suburban trains. Despite so many changes, the fare will not be increased by a single rupee for the second class,” he said, adding that all suburban services would gradually become air-conditioned.