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Changing City: 40 metres below Malad Creek – Mumbai’s Rs 5,821-crore tunnel takes shape

3.9-km twin tunnels to link Malad’s Mindspace with Kandivali’s Charkop; mining to begin in 2027, with project targeted for 2029

Changing City: 40 metres below Malad Creek – Mumbai’s Rs 5,821-crore tunnel takes shape
4 min readSep 11, 2026 11:51 AM IST
underground tunnel file photoThe underground route is aimed at easing the western suburbs’ dependence on the Western Express Highway, Link Road and SV Road. (File photo)
Nearly 40 metres below the Malad Creek, Poisar River and mangrove patches, Mumbai is set to carve out a 3.9-km twin-tunnel corridor linking Mindspace in Malad West to Charkop in Kandivali. The Rs 5,821-crore tunnel package, a key part of the 22-km Versova-Bhayander Coastal Road, is expected to enter the mining phase early next year and be operational by 2029.

The underground route is aimed at easing the western suburbs’ dependence on the Western Express Highway, Link Road and SV Road, while allowing the coastal road to pass through an ecologically sensitive stretch without cutting trees or disturbing mangroves.

Significance of the project

At present, North-South connectivity in the western suburbs is dependent on the Western Express Highway (WEH), Link Road and SV Road. Considering the increasing vehicular density, the coastal road is expected to take off the load from the existing roads, providing an alternate route for seamless connectivity.
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Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India. Expertise & Authority

Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai.

Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in:

Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.

City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region.

Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis:

National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.

State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019.

Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.

Experience

Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies:

Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014).

Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.

Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres.

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