MMRDA to Use 7L Litres of Water Daily for Thane-Borivli Twin-Tunnel Project

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is overseeing the Thane-Borivli twin-tunnel road project and has requested around 7 lakh litres of water daily, along with dedicated pathways for transporting the water and space to dump over 100 truckloads of soil excavated from the site each day, according to officials.

This request was made during a preliminary coordination meeting between MMRDA and the Thane Municipal Corporation last week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently launched the 13 km-long road project, which aims to reduce travel time between Thane and Borivli from the current 100 minutes to just 12 minutes.

An official explained, "The MMRDA has outlined several requirements for starting the project, including substantial water needs, transportation pathways, and sites for soil disposal. They also requested the relocation of some utility lines and timely land transfers."

However, concerns have been raised about the impact of these requirements on city resources. Experts warn that the city's existing water shortages could be exacerbated, and the additional soil could strain available open spaces and increase road congestion.

Saurabh Rao, Municipal Commissioner, acknowledged these concerns and proposed solutions. "The project will need 0.7 million litres of water daily, which we plan to supply by recycling sewage water from our treatment plants. We will explore options for transporting this water and schedule truck movements to minimize disruption during peak traffic hours," Rao said.

TOI