The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has made alterations to a signboard at the entrance of its tunnel on the coastal road near Nepean Sea Road. The previous sign claimed it as “India’s first undersea tunnel,” which raised questions from civic activist Zoru Bhathena, leading to a reassessment of the assertion. Now, the updated board describes it as the “largest diameter tunnel constructed using TBM technology.”

BMC officials deny that the change was prompted by Bhathena’s criticism, attributing it instead to a routine update. However, an official from Larsen & Toubro (L&T), involved in the project, suggests otherwise, hinting that social media backlash influenced the decision.

The tunnel, commencing at Marine Drive and traversing under Chowpatty before heading towards Breach Candy, has been subject to scrutiny following its recent inauguration. Bhathena and fact-checking sources have contested the accuracy of the “undersea” claim, pointing out that it neither traverses the ocean nor is submerged beneath water.

The controversy gained traction online after a Vashi resident, Amod Tamhankar, shared a photo of the revised signboard during his first journey on the coastal road. This incident underscores the significance of transparency and accuracy in public infrastructure projects, sparking discussions about the portrayal of such initiatives.