July 22, 2025: In a significant move poised to reshape the rural and peri-urban belt along the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is preparing plans for a major dam project near Khandala. The reservoir is intended to ensure a reliable water supply for 71 villages spanning 186.72 square kilometres in Panvel and Khalapur talukas of Raigad district.
Formerly part of the Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA), this stretch has been under MSRDC’s jurisdiction since 2016, when it was designated as the Special Planning Authority (SPA) by the state government. Located between Panvel and the popular hill station of Khandala—roughly 45 km from Mumbai and 80 km from Pune—the region lies strategically between two major urban hubs.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, an MSRDC official noted, “Our corporation has been entrusted with the holistic development of these 71 villages.” As per the 2011 Census, the area housed over one lakh residents—a number that has likely increased over the past decade.
Despite the presence of the Morbe and Devloli dams and the Patalganga River, none currently offer consistent water supply to the region. A comprehensive technical study will now be launched to assess viable sources for the proposed reservoir. The findings will inform a detailed project report (DPR), expected within the next year.
MSRDC also plans to appoint a technical consultant to assist in water resource mapping, infrastructure design, and tender processes. The planning document notes that essential infrastructure—such as sewage, water, and waste systems—is sorely lacking across the region.
Situated within the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats, the terrain’s natural slopes and biodiversity add further engineering complexity. If approved, this would be the fifth major dam initiative in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region in recent years.
Source: My Pune Pulse
