L&T Wins Mumbai’s Orange Gate – Marine Drive Tunnel Contract
September 29, 2023 Update: MMRDA has awarded L&T with Orange Gate – Marine Drive tunnel project’s contract.
July 20, 2023 Original Post: Larsen & Toubro (L&T) was today declared as the lowest bidder for the 4.46 km Orange Gate – Marine Drive tunnel project’s civil construction work in Mumbai after beating J Kumar Infraprojects – NCC JV when financial bids were opened.
This twin tunnel road project by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will feature twin tunnels built using 2 mega tunnel boring machines (TBMs) and cut and cover (C&C) methodology.
Each tunnel will consist of two 3.2m wide lanes each (plus an emergency lane) and have a design speed of 80 kmph. Their alignment will run primarily under Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Road and connect Marine Drive at the southern terminal of Mumbai’s Coastal Road Project (MCRP) with Orange Gate near the southern terminal of Mumbai’s Eastern Freeway.
MMRDA had invited tenders for this project’s civil construction in January 2023, and again in June 2023, with an unknown estimate and completion deadline. The project’s total estimated cost is Rs. 6,500 crore. Technical bids were opened earlier this month to reveal 2 bidders.
Financial Bid Values
| Firm | Bid (Rs. crore) without tax |
| Larsen & Toubro | 6717.53 |
| J Kumar – NCC JV | 7414.94 |
MMRDA’s Brief Scope: Construction of underground road tunnel connectivity including approaches on Design Build basis between Orange gate, Eastern Free Way to Marine drive, Coastal road at Mumbai
MMRDA’s estimate for the civil construction component is unknown to me, so we’ll have to wait and see how this plays out. If awarded, we’ll likely see TBM Mavala (DZ636) from the Mumbai Coastal Road Project making a comeback. That CRCHI slurry machine had recorded its final breakthrough in May and has now been stored away.
This project’s tunnels will pass right below below Mumbai Metro Line-3 (Aqua Line)’s tunnels and aims to cut down the travel time from over an hour to just 10 minutes. They’ll be twice the length of Mumbai Coastal Road’s recently completed 2.07 km twin tunnels connecting Priyadarshini Park Ramp and Marine Drive.
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– TMRG
Hey! Thanks for the update. Not sure where you got the travel time estimates, but these tunnels will not be cutting travel time from 1 hour. Current time would be half an hour, at best.
How J Kumar and NCC qualified? PQ reqd. large dia. tunnel completion, which is not satisfied by metro tunnels. Which project they have executed large dia. tunnes? Please provide info.
What is large diameter? As in what is the exact number
Because they are very corrupt contractors. They send packets to all clients and consultants and take the contract and delivers a poor quality work.
Because Jkumar and NCC are very corrupt contractors. They send packets to all clients and consultants and take the contract and delivers a poor quality work.
The contract has been awarded rightly to L&T. The expertise and execution skills are available wither. They deserve it.
Congratulations to L&T.
What is the tunnel dia for this project? and Are you sure Mavala tbm is coming back?
Contact for purchase department
purchase department? As if you are looking for service ( hiring equipment and contractors)
L&T have the capability of execution, quality and safety skills for the finished this project.
Congratulations 👏 L&T
The state authorities should ensure that all the tunnels ( borivili-thane , marine drive-eastern freeway, GMLR)are completed ASAP, coz mumbai desperately needs connectivity to stay ahead of other cities….
Deadline?
What is the timeline of this project? Nowhere to be announced or discussed.