By Arosh John | Thane Real Estate Expert | Founder, John Real Estate (MahaRERA Reg. No. A51700001835) | Editor-in-Chief, Thane Real Estate News (TREN)
Thane–MMR | August 16, 2026
The Thane–Borivali Twin Tunnel has entered another important stage of construction with the launch of its second Tunnel Boring Machine, Arjuna, on August 13, 2026.
Arjuna joins the first TBM, Nayak, as tunnelling gathers pace on a project that could significantly change road connectivity between Thane and Mumbai’s western suburbs.
The proposed corridor will connect Ghodbunder Road in Thane with the Western Express Highway at Borivali, passing beneath Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
For Thane residents, that is the real significance of the project. Borivali is geographically close to Thane, but reaching it by road currently requires motorists to travel around the national park through the existing Ghodbunder Road–Dahisar network.
The tunnel is being built to create a direct connection across that gap.
Arjuna Joins Nayak on the Tunnel Project
TBM Arjuna was launched on August 13, 2026, in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The machine joins TBM Nayak, which was launched earlier this year.
Both machines have cutterheads measuring approximately 13.34 metres in diameter and are designed to excavate through the hard basalt geology beneath Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
This is an important stage because the project is now moving further into the actual excavation phase. From here, the pace of tunnelling will become one of the clearest indicators of the project’s progress.
MMRDA’s project information currently shows 11.49% physical progress up to March 2026.
That figure needs to be read carefully. It relates to the reporting period ending March 2026 and predates the subsequent launch of both Nayak and Arjuna. It should not be interpreted as the current construction percentage for August 2026.
The Route: Ghodbunder Road to Western Express Highway
The project is being implemented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
The corridor connects:
Thane side: Ghodbunder Road
Borivali side: Western Express Highway
The main tunnel passes beneath Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
At present, anyone travelling from Thane towards Borivali largely depends on the existing Ghodbunder Road route to Dahisar before continuing into the western suburbs.
The tunnel provides another route altogether.
That distinction is important. This is not simply a road widening or junction improvement. It is a new east-west road connection between two parts of the metropolitan region that currently have no direct road link.
Thane–Borivali Tunnel: Project Snapshot
| Project Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Project | Thane–Borivali Twin Tube Tunnel |
| Implementing Authority | MMRDA |
| Total Length | Approx. 11.85 km |
| Main Tunnel Length | Approx. 10.25 km |
| Approach Roads | Approx. 1.60 km |
| Tunnel Diameter | Approx. 13.3 metres |
| Configuration | Twin-tube road tunnel |
| Each Tunnel | 2 traffic lanes + 1 emergency lane |
| Thane Connection | Ghodbunder Road |
| Borivali Connection | Western Express Highway |
| Alignment | Beneath Sanjay Gandhi National Park |
| Administrative Approved Cost | ₹16,600.40 crore |
| Published Physical Progress | 11.49% up to March 2026 |
| Latest Major Milestone | TBM Arjuna launched on August 13, 2026 |
Official Estimate: About an Hour of Travel Time Saved
Several reports have described the completed Thane–Borivali journey as taking around 15 minutes.
That may be possible under certain operating conditions, but it is better not to guarantee a specific journey time.
MMRDA’s stated project benefit is that the tunnel is expected to reduce the existing journey distance by approximately 12 km and save about one hour of travel time.
For regular Ghodbunder Road users, that difference is easy to understand.
Journey times to Dahisar and Borivali can vary sharply depending on peak-hour traffic, heavy vehicles, accidents and congestion at major junctions. On a difficult traffic day, even relatively short stretches can take considerably longer than expected.
A direct tunnel connection would remove a substantial part of that circuitous journey.
Thane Has Never Had This Kind of Western Mumbai Road Access
Thane’s traditional road connectivity has been strongest towards eastern and central Mumbai.
The Eastern Express Highway remains the city’s main road connection to Mumbai, while Ghodbunder Road provides access to Dahisar, the Western Express Highway and the Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor.
The missing connection has always been across Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
Thane and Borivali sit on opposite sides of the park, and despite being geographically close, there has been no direct road between the two.
That is the gap this project is designed to close.
Once the tunnel becomes operational, motorists from the Thane side will be able to emerge near Borivali and connect with the Western Express Highway.
That has relevance beyond Borivali itself.
For people travelling regularly towards Kandivali, Malad, Goregaon, Andheri and other western suburbs, the tunnel could make Thane a considerably more practical starting point than it is today.
Ghodbunder Road Still Remains Part of the Story
The tunnel will not make Ghodbunder Road irrelevant.
Its Thane-side traffic eventually has to connect with the surrounding road network, which means access roads, nearby junctions and traffic distribution on Ghodbunder Road will still matter.
This is also why one infrastructure project cannot be viewed in isolation.
Thane currently has several major road proposals and projects at various stages, including the Thane Coastal Road, the Anand Nagar–Saket elevated corridor and several missing-link road projects.
Together, these projects are intended to create more options for traffic that is currently concentrated on a relatively limited number of arterial roads.
The tunnel may significantly shorten the Thane–Borivali journey, but how smoothly vehicles reach and leave its Thane portal will also determine the everyday experience of commuters.
For Thane Real Estate, Connectivity Is the Bigger Story
For Thane’s property market, the most relevant change is the possibility of much better access to western Mumbai.
That is particularly important for the Ghodbunder Road micro-market.
Areas such as Manpada, Patlipada, Hiranandani Estate, Waghbil, Kavesar, Kasarvadavali and Owala already have large residential catchments supported by schools, hospitals, retail, commercial development and other social infrastructure.
Their connectivity with Thane and eastern Mumbai is already well established.
For many buyers, however, the deciding question is often the commute.
A family may have one member working in Thane, Powai or eastern Mumbai, while another travels regularly to Goregaon, Malad, Kandivali or Borivali. In such cases, connectivity can directly influence whether Thane is a viable residential choice.
A substantially shorter route to western Mumbai therefore expands the number of employment locations that can realistically be accessed from Thane.
That is more important than simply claiming that the tunnel will drive up property prices.
Infrastructure can influence demand, but property values do not move because of a single project. Actual completion, road access, housing supply, employment growth, interest rates, project quality and prevailing market conditions all matter.
For buyers, the more sensible way to look at the Thane–Borivali Tunnel is as a potential improvement in where you can reasonably commute from Thane, rather than as a guaranteed property appreciation story.
Building a Highway-Sized Tunnel Beneath SGNP
The location makes this an unusually complex infrastructure project.
A major section passes underground beneath Sanjay Gandhi National Park, one of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s most environmentally sensitive areas.
Large-diameter tunnel boring machines are being used to excavate through the basalt beneath the park while limiting surface construction activity.
The environmental sensitivity of the alignment means construction methods and statutory compliance will continue to be closely watched during execution.
For the public, however, the next useful measure of progress is fairly straightforward: how much tunnelling Nayak and Arjuna actually complete.
When Is the Thane–Borivali Tunnel Expected to Open
The project is currently targeted for completion around 2028.
That date should be treated as a project target rather than a confirmed opening date.
The work involves more than 10 km of major tunnelling, in addition to portals, approach roads, ventilation, electrical installations, safety systems and other infrastructure required before the tunnel can carry traffic.
Infrastructure projects of this scale can also be affected by geological conditions, statutory requirements and execution challenges.
With both major TBMs now deployed, the construction picture should become clearer as excavation advances.
The Focus Now Shifts To Actual Tunnelling Progress
The launch of Arjuna is an important milestone, but the more meaningful updates from here will be the actual progress of tunnelling.
How much distance the two machines cover, whether the approach roads and portals progress alongside the tunnel work, and whether the project stays close to its present schedule will matter far more than individual launch events.
For Thane, the project addresses a very specific geographical limitation that has existed for decades.
Borivali is close on the map but much further away by road.
If the tunnel is completed and performs as intended, that equation changes.
For commuters, it can provide a shorter route to Mumbai’s western suburbs.
For the property market, better access to western Mumbai can become a more serious part of the location equation for people considering Thane as a place to live.
That is why the Thane–Borivali Tunnel deserves close attention as construction progresses.
About the Author
Arosh John is a MahaRERA-registered real estate consultant in Thane and the Founder of John Real Estate, a professional real estate consulting firm serving homebuyers, property owners, investors and NRIs across Thane and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
With a strong focus on the Thane real estate market, Arosh advises clients on residential property purchases, resale transactions, new-project investments, luxury homes, NRI property transactions, rentals and property-related due diligence.
His work covers key Thane micro-markets including Ghodbunder Road, Hiranandani Estate, Manpada, Kolshet, Majiwada, Patlipada, Waghbil, Kasarvadavali, Upper Thane and the Thane–Nashik Highway growth corridor.
Arosh is also the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Thane Real Estate News (TREN), an independent real estate and infrastructure publication focused on Thane. Through TREN, he regularly writes about Thane real estate, infrastructure projects, MahaRERA regulations, property transactions, connectivity, redevelopment and issues affecting property buyers and investors.
His work combines on-the-ground real estate experience with research into infrastructure, regulation and changing property-market conditions across Thane.
For professional real estate consultation in Thane, project evaluation, resale transactions or buyer advisory, readers can connect with Arosh John and John Real Estate.
MahaRERA Registration No.: A51700001835
Disclaimer
This article is published by Thane Real Estate News for general information and awareness purposes only. Information relating to infrastructure projects, timelines, costs, alignments, approvals and construction progress is based on information available from government authorities, implementing agencies and other credible public sources at the time of publication.
Infrastructure projects may undergo changes in alignment, design, cost, timelines, approvals or execution. Readers should verify the latest information directly with the relevant government authority before making any property purchase, investment or financial decision.
Any discussion regarding the possible impact of infrastructure on property markets is an editorial assessment and should not be treated as a guarantee of future property prices, appreciation, returns or investment performance.
The article does not constitute legal, financial, tax or investment advice. Buyers are advised to conduct independent due diligence and obtain appropriate professional advice before entering into any real estate transaction.
Considering a property purchase, sale or investment in Thane? Connect with Arosh John at John Real Estate for professional advisory across Ghodbunder Road and Thane’s key residential micro-markets, including project evaluation, resale transactions and buyer due diligence.
Also READ: Thane 2026–2030: A Connectivity-Led Investment Case Taking Shap
Also READ: India’s Largest TBM Lowered in Thane: A Defining Moment for the Thane–Borivali Tunnel
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