Mumbai residents will face a scheduled 30-hour suspension of water supply as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) carries out critical infrastructure upgrades under its ongoing Water Supply Project. The shutdown will begin at 10:00 am on May 5, 2026 (Tuesday) and continue until 4:00 pm on May 6, 2026 (Wednesday), affecting multiple parts of the city with either complete supply stoppage or reduced water pressure depending on the zone.
The civic body has planned the interruption to facilitate the commissioning and integration of a major water tunnel system designed to improve long-term distribution efficiency and reliability across Mumbai. The key engineering work involves connecting an 1800 mm diameter water tunnel originating from Amar Mahal, near Hedgewar Udyan, to important supply points including Wadala’s Pratiksha Nagar, Parel’s AMT-1, Trombay Reservoir (AMT-2), and the Turbhe High Level Reservoir.
As part of the project, interlinking works will also be carried out between the 1800 mm Turbhe High Level line and another 1800 mm pipeline, along with a 1200 mm Turbhe Low Level channel. Both systems will remain temporarily shut during the maintenance window, allowing engineers to execute precision connections aimed at strengthening the city’s ageing water infrastructure and reducing future leakage or supply inefficiencies.
According to BMC, the shutdown has been strategically scheduled to minimise long-term disruptions while enabling essential upgrades. However, the impact will be felt across several divisions. Areas such as Pratiksha Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Sanjay Gandhi Nagar, Wadala Truck Terminus and surrounding localities in the F North Division are expected to face complete shutdown, particularly on May 6. Meanwhile, Shiv (East) and Shiv (West) divisions will experience low-pressure supply throughout the period.
Other divisions, including F South, L, and M East, will be affected primarily on May 6, while M West and N Divisions, along with adjoining regions, will undergo a full shutdown on May 5 followed by reduced pressure on May 6.
The BMC has urged citizens to store adequate water in advance and use supplies judiciously during the shutdown period, especially as demand typically rises in peak summer conditions. The civic body also indicated that reliance on tanker services may increase temporarily, and conservation efforts will help ease pressure on alternative arrangements.
Established in 1888, the BMC—India’s richest municipal corporation—continues to oversee Mumbai’s essential urban services, including water supply, sanitation, roads, and public health, serving a population of over 1.4 crore residents.
Source: Financial Express
