New tunnel to solve water woes of western suburbs

Large parts of Andheri and Jogeshwari West will have improved water supply starting Tuesday after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioned the six-km underground tunnel from Verawli to Yari Road. In a bid to replace age-old fragile steel pipelines,the civic body is gradually shifting supply to underground concrete tunnels. Only three tunnels are currently being used in the city,while work on three others is underway.

Switching of water supply through this large tunnel,measuring 2,200 mm in diameter,will lead to change and increase in supply hours for Sahakar Road,Bandra Plot,Lokhandwala zone,Millat Nagar,Yari Road,J P Road,Veera Desai Road,Four Bungalows and Behrambaug. In most cases,the supply time has been increased from three hours to 12 hours. A senior hydraulic engineering official said the problem of contamination too will be eradicated once the tunnel is brought into complete use.

However,having spent about Rs 250 crore on this tunnel,the BMC said one has to be careful to avoid any wastage of water. “Due to longer hours of pressurised water supply,citizens will have to be keep a watch on underground and overhead tanks and avoid overflow. Such wastage of water,if observed,will result in disconnection of supply to that building or plot without any notice,” the official said. The shift of supply to the newly built tunnel shafts may result in blackish water for a few days. “Citizens are requested to take additional precautions to strain and boil the water (for drinking) for a week,” the official added.

Work on the tunnel was started in March 2007 and was originally expected to get completed by June this year.