The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is facing a significant challenge as it seeks to secure essential resources for the execution of the Thane-Borivali twin-tunnel road project.
Among the critical requirements is an estimated 7 lakh litres of water daily, which poses a substantial strain on Thane’s already pressured water supply system. Additionally, the project demands a dedicated pathway for the transportation of materials, as well as space to dispose of the substantial amount of soil excavated daily. The Thane-Borivali tunnel, spanning approximately 13 kilometres, is a flagship infrastructure project aimed at dramatically reducing travel time between Thane and Borivali from the current 100 minutes to just 12 minutes.
The project, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is crucial to alleviating traffic congestion and improving connectivity within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. However, the logistics of sourcing water and managing the excavated material have emerged as significant hurdles. During a recent coordination meeting between the MMRDA and the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), the MMRDA outlined its resource requirements. These include a substantial water supply, pathways for material transport, and designated dumping sites for the soil removed during tunnel excavation. An official involved in the project commented, “The MMRDA has requested several key resources to initiate work, including large quantities of water, transportation routes, and soil disposal sites.”
The official also noted that the MMRDA has requested the relocation of various utility lines, including pipelines, and emphasised the need for timely land transfers to facilitate the construction. However, the considerable water demand has raised concerns among local experts, who warn that it could exacerbate Thane’s existing water scarcity issues. The daily extraction of such a large volume of water may further stress the city’s limited resources, with potential environmental and logistical challenges.
One expert highlighted the broader implications of the project’s resource demands, stating, “The availability of open spaces to accommodate the massive volume of soil generated by the tunnel work is limited, and finding environmentally sound disposal methods is critical. Furthermore, Thane’s roads are already heavily congested, and the additional traffic from trucks and tankers could worsen the situation.”
In response to these challenges, the Thane Municipal Commissioner confirmed the MMRDA’s requests but assured that the TMC is exploring viable solutions. “The project will require 0.7 million litres of water daily, which we can supply by recycling treated sewage water from our plants,” the commissioner explained. “We are assessing the feasibility of laying pipelines or using tankers to transport the water to the construction sites.” As the project moves forward, the MMRDA and TMC will need to collaborate closely to ensure that these logistical and environmental challenges are effectively managed, thereby minimising the impact on Thane’s already stressed resources.
