Kasheli-Mulund water tunnel to strengthen city’s water supply

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Sunday announced the implementation of a major tunnel between Kasheli in Bhiwandi and Mulund Octroi Naka to strengthen water conveyance to Mumbai and the wider metropolitan region

Published on: Feb 2, 2026, 04:34:19 IST

By Linah Baliga

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MUMBAI: The city’s vast water supply system is set to become more efficient with the expansion of its water tunnel network, a move aimed at reducing leakage and distribution losses. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Sunday announced the implementation of a major tunnel between Kasheli in Bhiwandi and Mulund Octroi Naka to strengthen water conveyance to Mumbai and the wider metropolitan region.

Kasheli-Mulund water tunnel to strengthen city’s water supply

The civic body has been pioneering the use of water tunnels as a core element of urban water distribution. Mumbai is the first city in India where a local self-government body has constructed dedicated water tunnels for water supply. With a cumulative tunnel length of nearly 100 km, the city now ranks second globally in terms of the scale of its water tunnel network.

In an official statement issued on Sunday, the BMC said it is currently implementing a major water tunnel project between Kasheli in Bhiwandi and Mulund Octroi Naka to strengthen water conveyance to Mumbai and the wider metropolitan region. Gagrani recently inspected the project site at Mulund Octroi Naka to review the progress of the works.

Municipal commissioner and administrator Bhushan Gagrani said water tunnels are emerging as a practical and effective alternative to conventional water conveyance systems, offering better control over leakages and minimising wastage.

At present, water from the Bhatsa reservoir is supplied to Mumbai through the Mumbai-II and Mumbai-III main pipelines. However, rapid urbanisation in Thane has led to these pipelines increasingly obstructing development projects, prompting the Thane Municipal Corporation to request that the BMC lower the pipelines. Considering this and Mumbai’s steadily rising demand for drinking water, the BMC decided to construct a dedicated water tunnel along the Kasheli–Mulund corridor.

The project, which began in September 2024, is scheduled for completion by October 2030. The tunnel will extend over 7.1 km. A 134-metre-deep launching shaft is being constructed at Mulund Octroi Naka, where excavation has reached 130 metres. At Kasheli, a 128-metre-deep recovery shaft is being built to retrieve the tunnel boring machine, with excavation completed up to 15 metres.

Excavation is scheduled to begin in July 2026, marking a significant step towards strengthening Mumbai’s long-term water security.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Raghunath Baliga
Leena Raghunath Baliga (byline: Linah Baliga) is Associate Editor with nearly two decades of experience in journalism,and has earlier worked with TOI, DNA and Mumbai Mirror specialising in civic affairs, urban governance and political reporting. Based in Mumbai, she has looked into the functioning of civic administration, public policy and governance, with a particular focus on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), urban infrastructure, housing, redevelopment and city planning. Over the years, she has consistently reported on issues that directly impact citizens, including municipal administration, public health, BEST, environmental concerns, major infrastructure projects and state government policies affecting urban development. Her reporting combines on-ground reporting, making complex civic and governance issues accessible to readers while ensuring accountability in civic administration. She has extensively covered political developments that shape urban policy. Her work has also focused on redevelopment policies, affordable housing and the implementation of major infrastructure projects across Mumbai.She continues to chronicle the evolving and changing landscape of Asia's richest municipal corporation. When she isn't chasing stories or poring over civic documents, she enjoys dabbling in art and unwinding with music. An avid rock 'n' roll enthusiast, she has an anachronistic taste in music, with a playlist that happily skips across decades, filled with timeless classics.Read More

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