Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Unveils Plans for Mumbai’s “Paatal Lok” Underground Road Network

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has revealed ambitious plans to decongest Mumbai’s traffic by creating an extensive network of underground tunnels across the city, which he has playfully dubbed “Paatal Lok”. Speaking at the IIMUN Youth Connect Session, Fadnavis said the parallel underground road network will complement the existing metro system and drastically improve connectivity across the metropolis.

Full Story:

The Chief Minister highlighted that Mumbai’s current average traffic speed is just 20 km/h, and the new infrastructure aims to raise it to at least 80 km/h in key corridors. “We are preparing a network of tunnels, a parallel underground system, which will free Mumbai from congestion,” Fadnavis said.

Under the project, the government plans to achieve 100% metro connectivity in Mumbai within the next four years, integrating underground and elevated metro lines. The underground network will span multiple key corridors, including Thane-Borivali and Mulund-Goregaon, and will ensure seamless east-west connectivity. Planned tunnels such as the Eastern Expressway link from Atal Setu to Girgaon Chowpatty and the Bandra-Kurla Complex connector to the domestic airport are expected to significantly reduce travel time across the city. According to Fadnavis, with these tunnels, a commuter can travel from South Mumbai to the airport in just 20 minutes.

Fadnavis also emphasized the ongoing modernization of Mumbai’s suburban railway network, the city’s lifeline serving approximately 9 million passengers daily. The new developments aim to bring suburban train standards closer to those of the metro system, reducing overcrowding and improving the commuting experience.

The Chief Minister described the current projects as just a trailer and promised that the full transformation of Mumbai will unfold over the next five to seven years, referencing past infrastructural successes like the Atal Setu and Coastal Road projects.

By combining underground roads, elevated metros, and upgraded suburban rail, Maharashtra aims to redefine urban mobility in Mumbai, offering residents faster, safer, and more reliable transport options.