The inaugural tunnel boring machine (TBM), referred to as Nayak, has been officially launched to commence excavation for the Thane–Borivali Twin Tunnel project. The ceremony occurred on 07 April 2026, at the TBM launch site located in Manpada, Thane, and was graced by the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, along with Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik.
This TBM, which has a weight of nearly 2,500 tonnes and a diameter of 13.34 meters, is engineered to navigate Mumbai’s challenging terrain and will be instrumental in developing the city’s future Metro network.
The 4.97 km tunnel will establish a connection between Dahisar and Kashigaon, significantly decreasing the travel time between Thane and Borivali, which currently ranges from 60 to 90 minutes due to severe congestion on Ghodbunder Road. Upon completion, the new route will reduce the commute to merely 15 minutes, offering essential relief to commuters in the Mira-Bhayander area.
The project is anticipated to be completed by May 2028 and also encompasses connecting roads that will link Borivali’s Western Express Highway with Thane’s Ghodbunder Road.
