Months after tunnel collapse killed 8 workers, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy says will complete project

He launched the aerial electromagnetic survey for the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel at Mannevari Palli in Nagarkurnool district.

Written by Sreenivas Janyala

Hyderabad | November 4, 2025 08:16 AM IST

2 min read

Telangana CM Revanth Reddy

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday launched the aerial electromagnetic survey for the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel at Mannevari Palli in Nagarkurnool district.

The tunnel is set to come up at a different location than the one that collapsed on February 22 while it was under construction, trapping eight persons, all of whom were later declared dead. The collapsed tunnel cannot be rebuilt now, officials said.

After launching the survey, which the CM described as very advanced and sophisticated, he said the government is committed to completing the long-pending project.

Reddy said that due to delays, the project cost has escalated to Rs 4,500 crore.

The Chief Minister came down heavily on the previous BRS government for not completing the SLBC tunnel works during its 10 years in power. “The SLBC project was sanctioned in 1983. The Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government started Tunnel-1 and Tunnel-2 works in the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh in 2004 at a cost of Rs 1,968 crore. After KCR (K Chandrashekar Rao) became CM in 2014, the works stalled,” Revanth Reddy said.

He noted that the project would have been completed at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore had the KCR government completed the work. He also criticised KCR for “not taking up even a single project on the river Krishna”.

The Chief Minister said Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy was making all-out efforts to complete the SLBC project by roping in Army officials to dig the tunnels without any trouble. “It was unfortunate that eight workers died during the excavation of the tunnel, and the government supported the bereaved family members,” he said.

Sreenivas Janyala

Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance. Expertise and Experience Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues: High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy. Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules. Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes. Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak. Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More

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