8.48 km tunnel to be built for water supply from Ghatkopar to Dharavi

Tunnel will be 145-150 metres underground

In a bid to augment the water supply in central and eastern parts of the suburban belt, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to construct a 8.48 km-long water supply tunnel between Dharavi and Ghatkopar.

The tunnel will be at a depth of 145-150 metres below ground, with its peak depth of 152 metres at Ghatkopar. Unlike a pipeline which is just 3-5 metres beneath the ground level, the tunnels are laid deeper so that they do not get damaged during road or civil infrastructure works.

The BMC is also building two waste water treatment facilities (WWTF) at these two locations, from where recycled water will be transported via these tunnels.

This tunnel will be a part of a larger water tunnel network of a length of 11.61 kms that the BMC is extending towards Bhandup from Ghatkopar. Overall, the BMC currently has a water tunnel network of 100 kms.

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Ghatkopar, Parel and Wadala are located in the eastern suburbs and the central part of the island city. Due to high population density, the water supply pipeline became outdated with time and couldn’t maintain high pressure while supplying water.

The cost of the 8.48 km tunnel has been pegged at Rs 1,989 crore. Civic authorites had issued a work order for building the tunnel on September 30.

According to civic officials, the tunnel will be constructed by using a tunnel boring machine (TBM) and the diameter will be around 12 metres.

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“The project has been conceived to curb cases of water contamination and manmade leakages. These tunnels will run deep below the surface and the chances of pipelines getting damaged during civic and infrastructure works are minimum. The tunnels will also have a larger diameter, which will lead to improved water pressure since we will be able to supply a higher quantum of water,” said a civic official.

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Earlier in August, the BMC had completed digging a 9.7 km-long water tunnel between Ghatkopar and Wadala. With the completion of this tunnel, Mumbai now has a 100 km underground water tunnel network. At present, New York has the longest water tunnel network of 111 km in the world. The first water supply tunnel was laid in Mumbai in 1955 and with time the network grew.

Pratip Acharya

Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India. Expertise & Authority Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai. Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in: Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting. City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region. Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis: National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019. State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019. Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis. Experience Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies: Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014). Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express. Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More

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