The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) achieved a major breakthrough on Tuesday by completing digging 1.8km stretch of the total 6.7km-long underground sewage tunnel that is being constructed beneath Mithi River as part of the Mumbai Sewage Disposal Project (MSDP). Civic officials said the basic objective of constructing the tunnel is to improve the carrying capacity of the Mithi River by improving its water quality, which will eventually help curb floods in Mumbai. The sewage tunnel will extend from Bapat Nullah, near Santacruze Chembur Link Road (SCLR), to Dharavi sewage treatment plant. Approximately 168 million litres of contaminated water that flows into Mithi river from various drains will be carried by the underground sewage tunnel to the sewage treatment plant in Dharavi. Once the sewage is treated, it will be released into the creek at Mahim Nature Park, said civic officials. The tunnel work has been divided into three phases. The mining of the tunnel started in November last year and the project is expected to be completed by September 2025.
