January 3, 2026: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has moved ahead with a critical water infrastructure project by floating a fresh tender for the construction of a 7.05-km underground water conveyance tunnel linking its proposed desalination plant at Manori to Kandivali in Mumbai’s western suburbs. The tender was issued a month after the civic body finalised the contractor for the desalination plant itself.
The proposed tunnel will originate from Manori and pass beneath the Gorai Creek, forming a key link between the upcoming plant and Mumbai’s existing water supply network. Civic officials said underground tunnels are being preferred over conventional pipelines as their larger diameter allows for improved and uninterrupted water flow over long distances. The tunnel will be excavated simultaneously using two Tunnel Boring Machines to expedite construction.
“The treated water from the desalination plant will be transported through this tunnel to Kandivali, where we will link the tunnel with a shaft of the existing water supply network, from where the water could be further supplied in households and commercial establishments,” said an official privy to the development. According to the BMC, the desalinated water will be supplied to western suburbs, including Kandivali, Borivali, Malad, and Goregaon.
“The tunnel will be equipped to transfer 400 MLD (million litres per day) of water every day with a standby 100 per cent capacity,” the official added. The cost of constructing the tunnel has been estimated at Rs 200 crore. As per the tender conditions, the selected contractor will also be responsible for operating and maintaining the tunnel for seven years after completion.
The desalination plant project was first proposed in 2019 to address Mumbai’s widening water demand-supply gap. The city currently requires around 4,250 MLD of water daily, while the BMC supplies about 3,900 MLD. Once operational, this will be Maharashtra’s first desalination plant. The facility will be built on a 12-hectare state-owned plot at Manori village, a fishing hamlet in northern Mumbai, with land transfer to the BMC nearing completion. The civic body has earmarked Rs 11,166 crore for the plant.
At present, Mumbai relies entirely on seven lakes spread across Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Nashik districts. The desalination project and its supporting tunnel are expected to add a crucial new water source, reducing the city’s dependence on monsoon-fed reservoirs and strengthening long-term water security.
Source: The Indian Express
