Panvel-Baroda Highway set for 2025 completion

The excavation of the second tunnel under the Matheran mountain range for the Panvel-Baroda Mumbai highway has been completed, and road construction is progressing rapidly. Officials are optimistic that the route will be ready for opening by July 25, 2025. This development follows the completion of the first tunnel near Shiravali village in August, which had piqued interest in the timeline for the second tunnel's excavation.

The double-tunnel route, designed to enhance connectivity, will drastically reduce travel time for residents of Badlapur, allowing them to reach key destinations like Panvel, Uran JNPT port, and the Navi Mumbai International Airport project in just a few minutes.

The project, led by CIDCO, aims to significantly boost the economy of Panvel city by linking the Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA) directly to the Mumbai-Baroda highway. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is working on completing the construction in the next 9 months, with 60% of the double tunnel (covering approximately 4.5 kilometers) already finished. The last package of this project (Package No. 17), which spans 9.6 kilometers from Bhoj village in Badlapur to Morbe village in Panvel, is 45% complete, with an investment of Rs. 1400 crore.

Work had slowed down due to the monsoon season but has now gained momentum, with authorities expressing satisfaction over the early completion of the tunnel excavation. The double tunnel, with a height of 13 meters and a width of 23 meters, will feature 8 lanes, contributing to improved traffic flow.

The highway will eventually connect to the Virar-Alibaug Multimodal Corridor near Morbe village. Although MSRDC (Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation) has completed the tender process and compensated some farmers, land acquisition hurdles have created uncertainties for the project timeline. MSRDC can resume work once funding is secured.