India tunnel infrastructure expansion

In late July 2026, India's National Highways Authority opened the twin‑tube Mukundra Tunnel in Rajasthan, completing a key segment of the Delhi‑Mumbai Expressway. The eight‑lane road tunnel is the widest of its kind in the state and is expected to cut travel time between Delhi and Mumbai, lower freight costs, and improve safety for passenger and cargo traffic.

A few days later, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation announced the approval of two major tunnelling projects in Mumbai. The Manori‑Kandivali water tunnel, a 7.2 km underground conduit, will transport desalinated seawater from Manori to the city’s supply network, with construction slated for 45 months. Simultaneously, work on the 9.2 km Orange Gate–Marine Drive road tunnel continued, with 650 m of excavation completed; the twin‑bore tunnel is designed to carry roughly 14,600 vehicles per day by 2029, reducing surface‑road congestion and linking key parts of South Mumbai.

Together, these developments illustrate a broader push by Indian authorities to expand tunnel infrastructure for both transportation and utilities, aiming to boost logistics efficiency, urban mobility, and water security across the country.