By Arosh John | Founder – John Real Estate (MahaRERA Reg. No. A51700001835), Editor-in-Chief – Thane Real Estate News (TREN)
Thane–MMR | December 2025
A Major Construction Milestone for One of MMR’s Most Ambitious Road Projects
The Thane–Borivali Twin Tunnel project achieved a landmark execution step with the lowering of India’s largest tunnel boring machine (TBM) at the Thane portal near Ghodbunder Road.
The 13.34-metre diameter TBM — deployed by contractor Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) — will excavate one of the two parallel road tunnels planned beneath Sanjay Gandhi National Park. This milestone marks the beginning of full-scale mechanised tunnelling on the Thane side, transitioning the project from preparatory work into active underground construction.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the implementing agency, has reaffirmed that the tunnel will cut current Thane–Borivali travel times from 60–90 minutes to approximately 15 minutes once operational.
Why the TBM Lowering is a Critical Turning Point
A TBM lowering is one of the most significant early milestones in any tunnelling project. It confirms that:
- Launch shafts and portals have been fully excavated
- Geotechnical and environmental clearances for tunnelling are met
- Mechanical, electrical and safety systems are commissioned
- Continuous excavation can begin toward the Borivali side
Technical parameters (as per MMRDA and MEIL):
- Tunnel length: 10.25 km (part of an 11.84 km corridor)
- TBM diameter: 13.34 m (largest of its kind in India for an urban road tunnel)
- TBM length: ~86 m
- TBM weight: ~2,500 tonnes
- Twin tunnels: 2 vehicular lanes + 1 emergency lane each
- Cross-passages: Every 300 metres
- Execution period: 60 months (May 2023 – May 2028)
This deployment places the project firmly in its high-intensity execution phase.
Also Read: Thane–Borivali Twin Tunnel Gains Speed: A New Era of Connectivity & Property Growth
Shifting Market Dynamics Across Western Thane
1. Commute Compression Becomes a Market Reality
Once complete, the tunnel will reduce a 23 km cross-ghat trip to a ~15-minute direct connection.
This strengthens the positioning of micro-markets such as:
- Manpada
- Hiranandani Meadows
- Tikujiniwadi
- Waghbil
- Patlipada
- Hiranandani Estate
- Majiwada
- Pokhran Road No.1 &2
- Kasarvadavali
- Gaimukh
- GB Road peripheral clusters
These locations will transition from Thane-centric markets to dual-demand markets serving both Thane and Western Suburbs.
2. Developers Gain Execution Visibility
For Western Thane’s developers, the TBM lowering:
- Reduces long-term uncertainty
- Strengthens launch feasibility
- Improves absorption potential for 2025–2027 launches
Infrastructure visibility is one of the strongest catalysts for buyer confidence — and this milestone provides exactly that.
3. Multi-Corridor Network Enhances the Narrative
The tunnel milestone aligns with other major works:
- Metro Line 4/4A (Wadala–Thane–Kasarvadavali–Gaimukh)
- Thane Coastal Road (Balkum–Gaimukh)
- Cross-Creek Bridges to Bhiwandi (all awarded, mobilisation underway)
- Internal Ring Metro (DPR + consultant stages)
Together, these create a dense web of connectivity that positions Western Thane as an infrastructure-convergent growth zone.
4. A New Residential–Commercial Hybrid Zone Emerges
As tunnelling progresses, Western Thane is expected to attract:
- Western Suburb professionals seeking larger formats
- Homebuyers prioritising metro + road connectivity
- Investors betting on infrastructure-led appreciation
This is the first tangible milestone confirming that this transformation is firmly underway.
Investor Takeaways (2025–2030)
- Appreciation will track infrastructure milestones (TBM advance, breakthrough, lining progress).
- 2025–2027 offers the best entry window near Ghodbunder Road influence zones.
- MahaRERA-compliant, construction-visible projects will lead absorption cycles.
- Long-term: Western Thane evolves into a competitive counterpart to Western Suburbs.
For infrastructure-backed advisory across Thane & MMR, connect with Arosh John — trusted by homebuyers, NRIs and developers for strategic, evidence-based real-estate guidance.
About the Author
Arosh John is widely recognised as one of Thane’s leading real estate consultants and a specialist in infrastructure-driven micro-market analysis across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). He is the Founder of John Real Estate (MahaRERA Reg. No. A51700001835) and the Editor-in-Chief of Thane Real Estate News (TREN) — a digital platform delivering factual, research-backed coverage of Thane’s property market, urban infrastructure, regulatory updates and investment trends.
With more than a decade of on-ground experience in Thane’s housing corridors, premium projects, villas, redevelopment pockets and NRI advisory, Arosh combines transaction expertise with a deep understanding of how infrastructure shapes real-estate value. His work is increasingly referenced by homebuyers, NRIs, developers and institutional investors seeking a Thane real-estate expert, top property consultant, or an advisor with specialised insight into infrastructure-led appreciation across Thane and MMR.
Disclaimer
This article is based on official project information published by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), contractor disclosures by Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL), and corroborated public reports as of December 2025. Project timelines and specifications remain subject to official updates. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
