MMRCL awards contract for Worli pedestrian tunnels

Mumbai: An underground pedestrian tunnel network linking the Science Centre Metro station with the Worli seafront and the Nehru Planetarium will be developed at a cost of ₹521 crore, as part of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation's plan to strengthen last-mile connectivity along Metro Line 3. The project is expected to be completed in about two years, with a target deadline of 2028.The plan includes two subterranean corridors originating from the Science Centre station. The primary 1.1-km tunnel will pass beneath the Mahalaxmi Racecourse and provide direct access to the Worli promenade, a major recreational and commercial stretch. A shorter 500-metre link will connect commuters to the Nehru Planetarium, improving access to the city's cultural precinct while helping decongest surrounding roads and junctions.According to technical specifications from earlier MMRC plans, the pedestrian tunnels are expected to be around 5 metres wide, designed to handle heavy footfall with adequate circulation space and built-in safety features. The corridors will be fully underground and grade-separated, seamlessly integrated with station concourses to enable uninterrupted, all-weather movement without conflict with surface traffic.The design incorporates escalators, elevators, and multiple entry and exit points to ensure universal accessibility. Systems for ventilation, lighting, fire safety, and CCTV surveillance will be installed in line with metro infrastructure standards.The execution contract has been awarded to J Kumar Infraprojects, which will undertake civil construction of the tunnels and associated structures.The project is part of a broader push by MMRC to create an extensive underground pedestrian network around key Metro Line 3 stations, aimed at improving first- and last-mile connectivity and reducing pedestrian-road conflict in high-density areas such as Worli.The corridors are also aligned with transit-oriented development (TOD) provisions under DCPR 33(23), which allow additional floor space index for properties within 500 metres of Metro 3 stations if developers provide direct vestibule access. Several of the proposed tunnels fall within this TOD influence zone, enabling integration with future developments.Separately, MMRC has proposed a 1.4-km underground corridor in Bandra-Kurla Complex to connect the Metro 3 station with the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail terminal via Tata Colony, creating an all-weather interchange for seamless transfers between the metro and bullet train networks.