MMRDA's Orange Gate–Marine Drive Tunnel TBM Successfully Crosses Seven Railway Tracks

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority's (MMRDA) Orange Gate–Marine Drive Urban Road Tunnel project has achieved a significant tunnelling milestone, with the south-bound Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) successfully crossing beneath seven operational Central and Harbour Railway tracks without affecting train operations. The operation was executed under 24x7 instrumentation and monitoring, along with stringent railway safety protocols and close coordination with Central Railway and the Commission of Railway Safety.

The TBM, described as India's largest slurry shield TBM deployed for an urban road tunnel, was launched by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in December 2025. The machine began its initial drive in January 2026 and transitioned to the main drive in February. The project involves constructing twin underground road tunnels in challenging urban and coastal geological conditions, requiring the TBM to pass beneath existing transport infrastructure, including railway corridors and Mumbai Metro Line 3.