Eastern Freeway tunnel to see ‘light’ in May

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is planning to open one of the twin tunnels on the Anik-Panjarpol link road for traffic by May. This will be the first tunnel in the city to be used for road traffic. The MMRDA is also planning to commission the Eastern Freeway project by the year-end.

According to the MMRDA officials, Metropolitan Commissioner Rahul Asthana has already directions for the four-lane left-hand side tunnel to be commissioned by May. It is learnt that work on a stretch of over 350 metres of the 500-metre-long tunnel has been completed.

“The crucial work of laying girders for the Trombay rail-over bridge has been completed and now we expect the Anik-Panjarpol link road, including the 10-metre-high and 17-metre-wide tunnel, to be ready by May. The MMRDA has also asked the contractors to finish work on the right hand side 555-metre long tunnel on a war footing,” said Asthana.

Of the Rs 847 crore Eastern Freeway project, the 9.3-kilometre corridor from SV Patel junction on P D’Mello Road to the beginning of Anik-Panjarpol link road is 70 per cent complete, the 5-kilometre corridor from Anik to the beginning of Panjarpol- Ghatkopar link road is around 60 per cent ready and the 2.5 kilometre corridor from Panjarpol to Ghatkopar-Mulund link road is more than 45 per cent complete.