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Fadnavis Unveils 'Paatal Lok' Tunnel Grid to Ease Mumbai Traffic and Boost Travel Speeds

The chief minister set a 2032 deadline for the decongestion push.

Overview

  • Branded as 'Paatal Lok', the underground road network is intended to raise average speeds toward 80 km/h and function as a parallel system to existing arterials.
  • The plan is paired with an expanded coastal road from south Mumbai to Bhayandar to provide a barrier-free alternative to the Western Express Highway, which carries roughly 60% of city traffic.
  • Projects cited as under construction include the ThaneBorivali and Mulund–Goregaon tunnels to strengthen east–west connectivity.
  • From the Bandra Sea Link, new tunnels are proposed to Bandra Kurla Complex and directly to the domestic airport, with the CM claiming a 20-minute trip from south Mumbai to the airport.
  • Near-term links include a BorivaliGoregaon parallel road and the Worli–Shivdi connector expected next year, and a tunnel connecting Atal Setu to Girgaon Chowpatty via the Eastern Express Highway targeted in three years, alongside a Mumbai One app for unified Metro–suburban–BEST tickets, no second-class fare hike, and close-door, progressively air-conditioned suburban trains.