Thane locals show powerof unity over tunnel tussle | Mumbai News
Thane: Residents of Mullabaug, Thane, have demonstrated how the power of united and determined community action helped realign the Thane-end entry-exit point of the multi-crore Borivli-Thane tunnel project. The initial alignment threatened to bring noise, congestion, and dust to their quiet enclave.The tunnel highway, constructed by the MMRDA, was initially set to cut through the heart of Mullabaug at the surface. However, it will now continue to move below surface for another 200 metres because of persistent efforts, protests, and political engagement. Deputy CM and MMRDA chairman Eknath Shinde announced last week that the tunnel would now exit closer to Ghodbunder Highway, sparing the residential cluster.The citizen movement, which is currently being widely discussed across the region, started when a few residents became aware of the plans in the early months of 2024. The on-site signs of construction — arrival of heavy-duty machines, tree cutting, surveys, and land acquisition requests by early 2025 — without any public hearings, stirred others into action.“We knew the tunnel would pass nearby, but had no idea it was going to slice through our locality,” said Madhuresh Singh, chairman of Shree Satyashankar CHS, one of the affected residential clusters. “When officials came asking for permissions and requests for land acquisition, we started probing deeper.”As concerns mounted, residents from the cluster of societies across the area began coordinating, discussing the implications, and mobilising support. A group called the Thane-Borivli Twin-Tunnel PAP was formed. Residents complained of facing health problems due to dropping air quality.Appeals for a hearing with the MMRDA remained unanswered, prompting residents to approach Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske. Meanwhile, the residents, unable to get clarity about the plans from the MMRDA, staged a protest march in scorching heat on April 12.Soon, a breakthrough came after a meeting with Mhaske and the formation of a 33-member residents’ committee after mid-April. Despite doubts and some residents considering relocation, the group of residents persisted with their aim to stave off any form of unjustified intrusion in their area. Working professionals spent evenings and weekends poring through project documents and engaging with officials. “We knew our concerns were valid, and so we were determined to fight with facts,” said Singh.A meeting with the MMRDA commissioner on May 20 led to a promise of technical workshops, but delays pushed residents to seek support from NCP-SP MLA Jitendra Awhad, who visited on June 8 and vowed to raise the issue in the Assembly. Then came a turning point when the residents were called for a meeting with Shinde on June 10, who, after hearing their grievances, announced the tunnel would be shifted away from their homes.
