A new tunnel connecting Badlapur and Navi Mumbai is set to significantly reduce travel time to just 20 minutes. The tunnel, part of the Vadodara-JNPT expressway project, links Rayate in Kalyan Taluka to Bendsheel village in Badlapur and will integrate Badlapur into a broader network connecting major cities like Navi Mumbai, Palghar, Gujarat, and Mumbai.
This 22-meter wide, four-lane tunnel is a crucial phase in the larger project aimed at ensuring the smooth flow of traffic between Mumbai and Vadodara. Currently, the 550 km journey between JNPT Port in Mumbai and Vadodara takes 10-12 hours, but with the new expressway, this will be reduced to 4-5 hours.
Construction of the tunnel has advanced swiftly, with plastering underway, marking a major milestone in the project.
The tunnel will also play a pivotal role in improving access to the upcoming Navi Mumbai Airport, fostering economic development by enabling faster cargo transport to the JNPT port. This could lead to the creation of commercial hubs and warehouses along the route, generating new employment opportunities for local communities.