BMC’s Ambitious Tunnel Project to Improve Water Supply Resilience in Mumbai and Thane Areas

Thane, 20th September 2024: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated a significant project to build a 21-kilometre water conveyance tunnel that will connect Yevai and Kasheli in Thane to Mulund in the eastern suburbs. This new infrastructure aims to improve the water supply system, with the existing pipeline network serving as a backup.

The project will be carried out in two phases, with an estimated budget of around Rs 4,500 crore. A civic official announced that the work order has been issued, and construction is expected to begin within a month.

This tunnel will enhance the ongoing expansion of the Mumbai-Nashik highway. Additionally, the BMC plans to construct a water tunnel linking the Yevai Reservoir to Kasheli (Bhiwandi). In March, the BMC’s water supply project department issued a tender for a 14-km tunnel from Yevai to Kasheli and a 7-km section from Kasheli to Mulund. After nearly seven months, a contractor has been selected to begin the work, with completion expected within six to seven years. The new tunnels will not only increase capacity but also be designed to minimize risks of leaks and contamination.

The 2024-25 budget has allocated Rs 350 crore for this project.

An official explained that the existing ground-level pipelines are vulnerable to damage from various ongoing developments in Mumbai and Thane. By constructing the tunnel 110 meters underground, the risk of bursts will be significantly reduced.

Furthermore, the BMC is exploring the possibility of building major underground tunnels to connect key areas such as Marol and Mahim, Malabar Hill and Cross Maidan, Veravali and Yari Road, and Gundavili and Bhandup Complex. Two smaller tunnels are also planned to link Powai, Veravali, and Ghatkopar.

Currently, the BMC supplies 3,900 million litres of water daily from lakes in Thane and Nashik through an extensive network of pipelines.