In a major push to bolster Mumbai's water infrastructure, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken a crucial step forward for its ambitious desalination project. A month after finalising the contractor for the plant itself, the civic body has now floated a tender for constructing a massive underground tunnel that will carry the treated water to the city's western suburbs.
The Engineering Marvel: A 7-Kilometer Underground Conduit
The proposed water conveyance tunnel will be an engineering feat, stretching 7.05 kilometres in length. It is designed to originate from Manori, where the desalination plant is being built, and travel underneath the Gorai Creek before terminating in Kandivali. To expedite the excavation, the BMC plans to deploy two Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) simultaneously.
Civic officials explained that such tunnels are preferred over traditional pipelines for large-scale water transfer over long distances. Their larger diameter ensures improved water flow and efficiency. "The treated water from the desalination plant will be transported through this tunnel to Kandivali, where we will link the tunnel with a shaft of the existing water supply network," a senior official involved in the project stated.
Boosting Water Supply for Western Suburbs
This underground channel is a critical link in the plan to quench the thirst of Mumbai's expanding western suburbs. Once operational, it will be equipped to transfer 400 million litres per day (MLD) of potable water, with a standby capacity of 100%. The water will be integrated into the municipal network at Kandivali and subsequently distributed to areas like Borivali, Malad, and Goregaon.
The project carries a significant price tag. The estimated cost for constructing the tunnel is pegged at Rs 200 crore. According to the tender documents, the selected contractor will not only build the tunnel but will also be responsible for its operation and maintenance for a period of seven years post-construction.
Maharashtra's First Desalination Plant Takes Shape
The entire initiative stems from a proposal first mooted in 2019 to address Mumbai's perennial water shortage. The city currently requires about 4,250 MLD of water daily, but the existing supply from seven lakes in Thane, Palghar, and Nashik districts meets only around 3,900 MLD.
The desalination plant, a first for Maharashtra, is the cornerstone of this solution. It will be built on a 12-hectare plot at Manori village, a fishing hamlet in northern Mumbai. The BMC is investing a colossal Rs 11,166 crore in the plant, which will use scientific processes to remove salt and minerals from seawater, making it fit for consumption. This technology is widely used in countries like Israel that have limited natural freshwater resources.
The land transfer process from the state government to the BMC is reportedly in its final stages, clearing the path for the project's physical commencement. Together, the desalination plant and its dedicated underground tunnel represent a futuristic, dual-pronged strategy to secure a more reliable water future for India's financial capital.
