Malabar Hill reservoir reconstruction: BMC starts work under phase I

In a bid to augment water supply in the entire south Mumbai, the BMC is reconstructing the 135-year-old reservoir at Malabar Hill. While the current reservoir supplies around 150 million litres per day (MLD), the BMC is planning to augment the capacity to 190 MLD following the revamp.

Speaking to The Indian Express, senior civic officials said that the construction of pumping stations was important before undertaking other works, in order to ensure that the water supply to Mumbai remain unaffected during the course of reconstruction.

“Before demolishing the existing reservoir, it is essential to build the new one to ensure that the water supply in Mumbai remains unaffected. However, we are carrying out the construction in a phased manner. Currently, we are in the first phase of our project wherein we are building new pumping stations and substations including security chowkis. Once they are ready, we will commence work of the other phases”, said a BMC official.

The new reservoir which is slated to be built on the western side of the existing Malabar Hill reservoir will supply water to the A, B, C and D municipal wards of the city, which cover upscale neighbourhoods such as Nariman Point, Cuffe Parade, Churchgate, Colaba, Kalbadevi, Girgaon, Nepean Sea Road and the entire Malabar Hill locality. The reconstruction project has been phased into five stages and will be undertaken over a span of 60 months.

Built in 1887, the Malabar Hill water reservoir is one of the first artificial water reservoirs built to meet the day-to-day water needs of Bombay. The reservoir is located at a hillock just beneath the surface of the Hanging Gardens.