The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has invited tenders for constructing an 8-km underground raw water tunnel connecting Pise and Panjrapur in Thane district. Estimated to cost around Rs 2,000 crore, the project is intended to improve the reliability of Mumbai’s water distribution network.
The proposed tunnel will replace four existing pipelines that transport raw water from the Pise pumping station to the Panjrapur water treatment plant. The selected contractor will handle the design and construction, along with securing all necessary government approvals and regulatory clearances.
These permissions will cover requirements related to Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules, forests, environmental protection, archaeology and other applicable regulations. The project has a contractual completion period of 72 months.
The Pise-Panjrapur infrastructure is an important component of Mumbai’s water supply system. Water drawn from the Bhatsa river is pumped from Pise to Panjrapur, where it undergoes treatment before being distributed across the city and its suburbs.
Currently, four pipelines serve the 8-km stretch. Three pipelines, each measuring 2,235 mm in diameter, were commissioned between 1979 and 1996. The fourth, with a diameter of 3,000 mm, began operations in 2007.
With water demand increasing and limited space available for laying additional pipelines, the BMC approached the state government for approval in March 2026. The proposal received clearance in September, with the government directing the civic body to undertake a detailed geological assessment before finalising the tunnel boring machine (TBM). It also stressed that excavation should not affect nearby buildings or structures.
“The underground tunnel will protect the water supply from external pollution and pilferage, while reducing losses from ageing and leaky channels. It will also help ensure uninterrupted transmission to the Panjrapur Water Treatment Plant during the monsoon and emergencies,” said a senior civic official.
Separately, the BMC plans to increase Panjrapur’s treatment capacity from 1,365 million litres per day (MLD) to 1,820 MLD. This will involve replacing the existing 455-MLD plant with a new facility capable of treating 910 MLD.
Source: The Free Press Journal
