A section of Marine Drive in South Mumbai is set for another round of reclamation, this time to widen the carriageway near Girgaum Chowpatty and accommodate traffic emerging from the proposed Orange Gate-Marine Drive tunnel.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has proposed reclaiming 2,298 square metres of the Arabian Sea over a 300-metre stretch near Jawahar Bal Bhavan at a cost of around Rs 40 crore. The reclamation will allow the existing eight-lane Marine Drive carriageway to be expanded to 13 lanes at the tunnel exit point and will also provide space for a wider promenade.

The widening has been proposed as part of the 9.96-km Orange Gate-Marine Drive tunnel project, which will connect the Eastern Freeway with the Mumbai Coastal Road. The six-lane tunnel is planned to surface near Girgaum Chowpatty before merging with Marine Drive.

According to MMRDA officials, without widening the road, traffic from the tunnel could create bottlenecks on the existing carriageway.

“The road widening is being done to ensure that the existing road capacity remains intact and to meet future traffic needs. At least three lanes in each direction between Marine Drive and Girgaum Chowpatty need to be maintained. The proposal will help ensure smooth traffic movement and better integration of the tunnel with the existing road network,” an MMRDA official said.

Under the proposal, five lanes will be added onto the stretch, leaving the seaside carriageway with four lanes and inner carriageway with three lanes, and six earmarked for the tunnel. While part of the existing promenade will be absorbed into the expanded roadway, the reclamation will also create space for a broader promenade along the stretch.

The proposal has been submitted to the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) as the site falls within the Coastal Regulation Zone. Environmental and coastal clearances for the road widening, as well as approvals for the tunnel project, are awaited.

The Orange Gate-Marine Drive tunnel, estimated to cost over Rs 8,056 crore, is aimed at providing a direct east-west link across South Mumbai. Excavation of the twin tunnels is currently underway from the Orange Gate end, with the project slated for completion in 2028.