BMC presented plan to construct water tunnel running 4.6km from Manori to Charkop and 2.6km to Kandivali in North Mumbai. Project approved by Maharashtra Government on July 3, 2026.

Purpose: Transport drinking water from desalination project at Manori; bridge gap between Mumbai's daily water demand of 4,600 MLD and current supply of 4,100 MLD (500 MLD deficit); reduce dependence on rainfall-fed lakes (Bhatsa, Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna, Modak Sagar, Tansa, Vihar, Tulsi).

Technical details:

• Tunnel excavated at depth of 104-128m using two tunnel boring machines
• Three deep shafts at Manori, Charkop, and Mahavir Nagar
• Pumping station at Manori capacity: 400 MLD
• Infrastructure includes product water tanks, valve chambers, SCADA integration
• Construction duration: 45 months; operation and maintenance: 84 months

Tender: Floated on concept, construction and operation-maintenance basis with lump sum rate method. Received 9 time extensions; 2 bidders participated. Afcons Infrastructure awarded contract for Rs 1,575 crores.

Corporators raised concerns about cost inflation, transparency, material quality, and effects of mixed desalinated and fresh water.

Mumbai's drinking water security depends on rainfall over seven lakes spread across Thane, Palghar and Nashik. The BMC is developing a desalination plant in Manori as a solution to address water shortages.

BMC proposes appointing Tata Consultancy Services as Project Management Consultant for desalination plant at Manori in western suburbs. Initial capacity 200 million litres per day (MLD), expandable to 400 MLD, expected operational within four years. Proposal placed before BMC standing committee for approval. BMC received Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances last month. Process initiated to obtain permissions from Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). Desalinated water will be conveyed from Manori to Charkop and onward to tunnel shaft at Mahavir Nagar in Kandivali. Tender floated for conveyance tunnel. TCS to manage both desalination and water tunnel projects. Total consultancy fee Rs 36.91 crore. BMC awarded contract to GVPR Engineers Limited in December 2025. Plant estimated cost Rs 11,166.17 crore including Rs 4,077 crore construction, 20 years operations and maintenance, power costs, taxes, and full lifecycle expenses.

BMC plans to connect Mumbai’s first seawater desalination plant at Manori to the city’s water distribution network through a 7.2-km underground tunnel to Charkop and onward to Mahavir Nagar in Kandivli. A proposal seeks approval to award Afcons Infrastructure Ltd a ₹2,241.3-crore contract for the tunnel’s design and construction. BMC hopes to begin construction next month.

Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has granted clearance to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) proposed 1.5-km bridge at Marve-Manori in P/N ward. Currently no direct connectivity exists between Gorai-Manori-Uttan and nearby places from Marve or western suburbs. Present road journey spans 29 km and during peak traffic takes almost two hours. Bridge aims to provide faster commutes with strict mangrove protection.