The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) has announced plans to develop an underground pedestrian tunnel network connecting the Science Centre Metro station with the Worli seafront and the Nehru Planetarium. The project, estimated to cost ₹521 crore, aims to strengthen last-mile connectivity along Metro Line 3 and is expected to be completed within two years, with a target deadline of 2028.
Project Details
The plan includes two subterranean corridors originating from the Science Centre station. The primary 1.1-kilometer 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.
Technical Specifications
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.
Execution and Timeline
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.
Transit-Oriented Development
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.
Additional Proposals
Separately, MMRC has proposed a 1.4-kilometer 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.
