BMC finds road at the end of the tunnel

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has found a new road to prevent encroachments as it begins work of replacing the 12.3km water pipeline network between Maroshi and Ruparel College. An underground tunnel will be constructed to overcome the problem of inequitable distribution of water and cut down on leakages.

Once the tunnel is constructed, the BMC will dismantle the water pipeline and construct roads on the lands freed. Municipal commissioner Jairaj Phatak said that the decision to construct roads had been taken to avoid encroachments on these vacant lands. “There is a need to improve the infrastructure in the city. The new roads will be very helpful,” he said.

According to officials from the hydraulic department, the tunnel will be operational by mid-2012.

Phatak said that a similar approach will be adopted for other water tunnel projects. The BMC will be constructing a 6.5km underground water tunnel to replace a network which extends from Veravali to Gargai in Thane district. A 12km water tunnel is also planned to carry water from Bhandup Complex to the Malad Hill reservoir. Phatak claimed that once all these projects are completed, the city road length will increase by over 15km.