Mumbai’s Connectivity Projects to Be Completed on a War Footing – Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

CM interacts with youth at IIMUN’s ‘Youth Connect’ programme

Mumbai, Nov 2025 : To improve the traffic system in Mumbai, several major infrastructure projects will be completed over the next five years, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said. Key projects aimed at boosting east–west and north–south connectivity in the city will be executed on a war footing.

Fadnavis was speaking at the Youth Connect programme organised by India’s International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN) at the Worli Dome in Mumbai.

The Chief Minister said that the extension of the sea link from Versova to Dahisar–Bhayandar, a new link road from Dahisar, free-flow bridges, and multiple tunnel projects will significantly reduce Mumbai’s traffic congestion. Currently, 60% of Mumbai’s traffic burden falls on the Western Express Highway, and alternative routes are being developed to ease this pressure.

He added that tunnels connecting the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to other parts of the city, a new link road network, and over-expressway connections will substantially increase the average travel speed within Mumbai. A complete network of tunnel roads is set to be built across the city. The entire metro network, too, will be operational within the next five years. Once these projects are completed, public transport in Mumbai will become more efficient and user-friendly. Fadnavis also mentioned that the ‘Mumbai One’ integrated mobility app will serve as a one-stop solution for commuters.

Fadnavis highlighted that while parents’ growing preference for private schools had earlier led to a decline in the number of government and municipal schools, the situation is now improving. The administration aims to upgrade municipal schools to international standards, and Mumbai’s civic body has the capability to achieve this. With proper training, teaching methods, and infrastructure, government schools can outperform private institutions, he said.

The Chief Minister stressed that youth participation is essential to strengthen and make democracy more inclusive. In today’s democratic environment, young citizens are not mere spectators; they are crucial stakeholders with their own opinions. Without giving space to the voices of youth, democratic processes cannot move forward, he added.

Speaking on climate change, Fadnavis said it is not just an academic topic but a pressing real-world challenge. “We are the first generation to experience climate change directly and the last generation that can do something about it,” he said. Public transport systems are among the highest contributors to pollution, which is why efforts are underway to electrify Mumbai’s transport network. The metro system already operates entirely on electric power, and the next step is to make all public transport completely zero-emission.

Fadnavis also noted that for many years, Mumbai’s sewage was discharged directly into the sea, which was inappropriate for a megacity. Regulations have now been introduced, and sewage treatment plants are being constructed across the city. By next year, only 100% treated water will be released into the sea. Additionally, in the Dharavi redevelopment project, 30% of the area will remain completely undevelopable, creating vast open and green spaces, he said.