• Source:JND
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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stated that Mumbai will soon get an extensive underground road network designed to ease the city’s long-standing traffic congestion. He described this new system as Mumbai’s own “paatal lok”, noting that the tunnels will run parallel to major surface roads to reduce pressure on existing routes.

Underground Network Aims To Ease City’s Heavy Traffic Load

Speaking at the BJP Youth Connect event at the NSCI Dome in Worli, Fadnavis explained that the government is focusing on large-scale infrastructure to improve daily travel in the city. He said the aim is to create smoother movement by combining underground links, new bridges and expanded Metro services.

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Parallel Roads, Metro Links And Bridges To Support The Plan

“Traffic jams are one of Mumbai’s biggest problems. To free Mumbaikars from this, we are building multiple roads, underground tunnels, and a widespread Metro network. Once this ‘paatal lok’ is ready, Mumbai will get permanent relief from congestion,” he said.

Fadnavis used the term “Paatal Lok”, also known from a popular Hindi web series, to explain the scale of the tunnel system. “We are creating a Paatal Lok, a widespread network of tunnels across Mumbai for complete decongestion,” he said during the event. “It will be a parallel network to existing roads,” he added, noting that Metro corridors will further support the plan.

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New Corridors To Improve Airport And Sea Link Connectivity

The chief minister said some projects will directly improve movement between key business and residential zones. A parallel road from Borivali to Goregaon and the Worli-Sewri connector, expected next year, are part of this network. A proposed Bandra-BKC tunnel will improve access to the airport, while a tunnel linked to the Eastern Freeway will support travel towards Chowpatty.

He noted that about 60 per cent of Mumbai’s traffic load rests on the Western Express Highway and new parallel routes are meant to reduce this burden. At present, city traffic moves at an average of 20 kmph, falling to 15 kmph during peak hours. Fadnavis said the new system will allow speeds of up to 80 kmph.

Construction of the Eastern Freeway tunnel has already begun and is expected to finish within three years.

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