Mumbai has taken a decisive step to expand its long-term water security, with the civic administration inviting bids for the long-delayed Gargai dam project in the Palghar district. The move comes a decade after the scheme was first proposed and is expected to strengthen the city’s strained potable water network at a time of rising population, climate-linked variability, and growing urban demand.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a tender valued at approximately ₹3,000 crore for constructing a 69-metre dam on the Gargai river, along with a 1.6-kilometre tunnel designed to channel water to the existing Modak Sagar reservoir. Officials said the new infrastructure will form a crucial link in Mumbai’s broader strategy to build resilient water systems, especially as older reservoirs reach saturation. If executed on schedule, the project could reduce the city’s dependence on distant catchments and enhance future climate resilience. According to the tender documents, the proposed tunnel will carry treated water into Modak Sagar, from where it will be distributed across residential and commercial zones in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The civic body has also planned an administrative complex, guest house, and other associated infrastructure at the site, suggesting long-term operational oversight. A senior official said the project “is essential to meet rising demand and secure supplies for future generations as urban growth accelerates”.
However, the environmental cost of the project has triggered significant scrutiny. Nearly 3.1 lakh trees may be impacted, and about 652 hectares of the required 844-hectare land parcel falls within forested zones of the Tansa wildlife sanctuary. The BMC has stated that it has secured statutory clearances from wildlife and forest authorities, but approvals from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change are still pending. Officials said the civic body has already identified compensatory afforestation land in Chandrapur, where the state administration has demarcated plots to offset ecological loss. Urban policy observers note that the challenge for Mumbai lies in balancing essential infrastructure needs with environmental responsibility. While expanding water capacity is critical — particularly in a city where demand outpaces supply — future projects must integrate ecological safeguards and minimise forest loss. This reflects growing expectations that infrastructure in large Indian cities must align with climate-responsible development and long-term sustainability goals.
The project had originally been targeted for completion by 2025. But after a change in state leadership in 2019, the proposal was temporarily shelved due to environmental concerns. With fresh political backing and renewed focus on water security, the BMC’s latest tender signals a revival of the city’s long-term water augmentation agenda. As Mumbai continues to expand, authorities face the dual responsibility of improving essential services while ensuring that new infrastructure supports a more climate-resilient and inclusive urban future.
BMC Issues Tender To Build Gargai Water Dam After Ten Years
