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MMRDA is likely to complete the work of Anik Panjarpole Link Road (APLR), country’s first urban transport tunnel, by the end of March next year. At a time when most of the infrastructure

projects are shooting their deadlines, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is likely to complete the work of Anik Panjarpole Link Road (APLR), country’s first urban

transport tunnel, by the end of March next year. The 5-km-long APLR is part of the 16.8km Eastern Freeway, which runs from P D’Mello Road to Ghatkopar. Once completed  it will ease traffic

movement towards the eastern suburbs and Navi Mumbai, Pune, Thane and Nashik.  The MMRDA plans to commission the Eastern Freeway and the left tunnel of the APLR by the end of February 2013.

The elevated Panjarpole Ghatkopar Link Road (PGLR) is likely to be completed in April. A senior MMRDA official said they were likely to commission the second (right) tunnel on the APLR by

March as compared to the previous estimates of April-May. “Technically, it is easier to work on the second tunnel as the rock quality there is sound. So, this will help complete work sooner.

Hence, the entire APLR will complete by the end of March 2013,” he added. The original completion date for the APLR was April 2007, which was revised later. The left hand side tunnel is 505

metre long while the second tunnel is around 550 metre long. The stretch from Orange Gate on P D’Mello Road to Anik and from Panjarpole to Ghatkopar will be an elevated four lane road,

while the APLR will be an eight lane at grade section. The MMRDA is also planning to construct two ramps by June 2013 at Wadala to provide access to areas like Wadala TT and Sion.