CM: ‘Pataal Lok’ tunnel network to ease city’s traffic

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said that Mumbai is set to undergo a massive transformation in its transport network. The government plans to build a large system of underground roads, which he referred to as the city’s own “Pataal Lok’, to address Mumbai longstanding traffic jams. He was speaking at the ‘Youth Connect’ event organised by the India’s International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN) at the NSCI Dome in Worli.

- Kalpesh Mhamunkar

Fadnavis said the government’s vision is to create a multilayered travel system for Mumbai through new parallel roads, expanded sea links, underground tunnels and a robust Metro network. Once this integrated mobility plan is complete, he said, Mumbai will experience permanent and significant relief from traffic bottlenecks. He added that the Versova-Dahisar-Bhayandar extension of the coastal road and the construction of several free-flow bridges will reduce the burden on the Western Express Highway, which currently carries nearly 60% of the city’s traffic.