Maharashtra’s Urban Development Department grants prior approval for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to proceed with a dedicated underground water tunnel between Pise and Panjrapur. The government issues a Government Resolution (GR), clearing a key regulatory step so the project can move to tendering and technical work.
Sources describe the proposal as a response to ageing pipeline infrastructure and limited space along the current water-main corridor. At present, water conveyed from Bhatsa Dam to Pise Waterworks reaches the Panjrapur Water Treatment Plant via open channels, which are more exposed to leakage, water losses and contamination. The tunnel is intended to provide a direct, enclosed transmission route that reduces transmission losses and pollution risks and helps maintain supply continuity during monsoons and emergencies.
The state approval comes with conditions, including directives to avoid risk to nearby residential and commercial structures. A detailed geological survey is required before selecting an appropriate tunnel boring machine (TBM) based on underground rock and soil conditions, and BMC must obtain required environmental and technical clearances before starting construction. One outlet also cites the planned tunnel length as about 8 km.
