Underground tunnels between Chembur – Wadala and Wadala – Parel will approximately 6 years to complete
Mumbai : To make cleaner drinking water available to Mumbaikars, the BMC has decided to build new underground tunnels all over the city. As a part of this project, one such tunnel will be built between Chembur – Wadala and Wadala – Parel. This tunnel will take approximately 6 years to complete.
The new tunnel will carry water from Bhatsa Lake. However, there are existing pipelines up to Chembur from Bhatsa Lake so the tunnel needs to be set up from Chembur onward. This project is expected to cost the civic body about Rs.450 cr.
According to Ramesh Bambale, deputy municipal commissioner (Special Engineering), the civic body has taken up this venture because of growing demand due to the city’s increasing population. Bambale said, “Some of the existing pipelines are around a 100 years old and it becomes difficult to maintain them. We need an alternate option for water supply.”
The tunnel needs to be constructed underground due to lack of space to construct it along the road on the sides, in a densely populated area like Wadala or Parel.
The BMC is yet to decide whether it will continue using the existing drinking water supply lines in this area after the new tunnel is constructed. Bambale said, “We are planning to keep these pipelines functional as back-up in case the new tunnel is shut in the future for repair or renovation.” Also, there are separate pipelines that carry water from Tansa lake and the BMC will decide whether to make them defunct or not.
Presently, the BMC has completed construction of two other tunnels in the city. One runs from Malabar Hill to Cross Maidan and the other runs from Veravali Reservoir to Adarsh Nagar and then to Yari Road.
Eeshanpriya MS
