Pune is advancing a large-scale underground water project aimed at securing the city’s long-term water supply and improving irrigation efficiency. The Khadakwasla–Fursungi tunnel, stretching 34 kilometres, is designed to replace sections of the existing open canal system, which has historically suffered from evaporation, seepage, contamination, and unregulated extraction. Authorities expect the project to conserve around 2.5 TMC of water annually, marking a critical step in the city’s climate-resilient water planning.
The tunnel construction, valued at Rs 2,200 crore, is being executed through multiple excavation points, with sophisticated Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) currently operating at Khadakwasla, Dhayari, Wadachiwadi, and Uruli Devachi. Each TBM can advance up to eight metres per day, contributing to rapid progress over the past two months. Additional sites at Katraj, Wadki, and Loni Kalbhor are slated to begin operations shortly, further accelerating the timeline. The project is expected to be completed within three years.
Urban planners note that underground water transport addresses several systemic challenges in Pune’s water management. Open canals are highly vulnerable to contamination from human activity and industrial runoff, while leakage and evaporation reduce delivery efficiency. A gravity-fed, enclosed tunnel mitigates these risks, ensuring water reaches urban and agricultural consumers with minimal loss. The design, a 6.3-metre diameter D-shaped tunnel, allows a flow of 41 cubic metres per second and passes approximately 90 metres behind the dam wall and 18 metres below the reservoir bed, entirely without pumping. The initiative is also expected to expand irrigated land by roughly 3,472 hectares, supporting sustainable agriculture on the city’s periphery. Experts emphasise that infrastructure of this scale has cascading benefits: reduced water scarcity pressure in urban areas, more predictable irrigation for farmers, and lower contamination risk for downstream communities.
Moreover, the project reflects a growing trend in Indian cities towards modern, enclosed water distribution systems, aligning with climate-adaptive urban strategies.While the project represents a significant capital investment, it is being closely monitored for its potential to reshape Pune’s water security framework. Officials are integrating environmental clearances and engineering innovations to ensure operational efficiency. Urban planners suggest that successful execution could serve as a model for other rapidly expanding cities in Maharashtra and beyond, where open canal losses have long constrained water availability. The Khadakwasla–Fursungi tunnel signals Pune’s move toward a more resilient and equitable water infrastructure, blending modern engineering with environmental foresight. Its completion is likely to enhance both urban water reliability and regional agricultural sustainability.
