MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis unveiled significant infrastructure initiatives during the Budget 2026-27 presentation on Friday. Among these projects are plans for an underground tunnel network in Mumbai and Pune, as well as a Rs 23,487-crore metro line leading to the Gateway of India.
In his Budget address to the assembly, Fadnavis indicated that the government aims to construct 1,200 km of metro lines and over 6,000 km of expressways to establish a seamless connectivity system for both passenger and freight transportation by 2047.
He noted that efforts are underway for a 490 km metro network in Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur, with 173 km already operational. Additionally, 50 km of metro rail will become active next year, with a total of 165 km expected to be completed by 2029.
The government is advancing with Metro Line 11, a fully underground initiative extending from Wadala to the Gateway of India at an expense of Rs 23,487 crore, with extensions planned from Dharavi to Bandra suburban station and Bandra terminus, Fadnavis stated.
He added that the Navi Mumbai Metro 2, costing Rs 5,575 crore and connecting Taloja to Khandeshwar, will enhance transport in the satellite town.
Fadnavis informed the assembly that the construction of a launching shaft for the underground tunnel from Orange Gate, Eastern Freeway, to Marine Drive has been successfully completed, with completion of the overall project targeted for December 2028.
The CM also confirmed that the first phase of the Goregaon-Mulund underground tunnel, linking Mumbai’s eastern and western suburbs, is nearing completion, while the Thane-Borivali underground tunnel is projected to be done by June 2028.
The integrated underground transport project plans to connect the Bandra-Worli Sealink to the bullet train station at the Bandra Kurla Complex, which will then be linked to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
Additionally, a new underground tunnel measuring approximately 6 km along with a 9 km elevated road in Mira-Bhayander is on the agenda, Fadnavis disclosed.
Plans are also in motion for an elevated road linking Atal Setu to the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, with projected completion by February 2027 at a budget of Rs 1,102 crore.
Construction is currently in progress on the Sewree-Worli elevated road, aimed at ensuring signal-free traffic between Atal Setu, the Coastal Road, and the Bandra-Worli Sealink, with completion scheduled for September 2026.
The Chief Minister further mentioned that approval has been secured for an elevated roadway from Thane to Navi Mumbai International Airport and that plans for a greenfield expressway connecting Kalyan in Thane district to Latur are underway, with alignment processes currently in progress.
