Written by Pratip AcharyaMumbai | January 2, 2026 03:04 PM IST 3 min readBMC floats tender for tunnel linking upcoming desalination plant to Kandivali in Mumbai suburbs (File)A month after finalising the contractor for constructing its ambitious desalination plant, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) last week floated a fresh tender for constructing an underground water conveyance tunnel that will link the plant with Kandivali in the western suburbs.A water conveyance tunnel is an underground channel that is used for supplying large quantities of water over a longer distance. Civic officials said that tunnels are preferred over conventional pipelines since the former provides improved water flow due to their larger diameter.According to the BMC’s latest plan, the new tunnel will be 7.05 km long and will originate from Manori. The tunnel will pass underneath the Gorai Creek and will be excavated by using two Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) simultaneously.“The treated water from the desalination plant will be transported through this tunnel to Kandivali, where we will link the tunnel with a shaft of the existing water supply network, from where the water could be further supplied in households and commercial establishments,” said an official privy to the development.The civic authorities said that the treated water from the plant will be supplied in pockets of western suburbs like Kandivali, Borivali, Malad and Goregaon.“The tunnel will be equipped to transfer 400 MLD (million litre per day) of water every day with a standby 100 per cent capacity,” said the official.According to the authorities, the cost of the tunnel has been pegged at Rs 200 crore, and the tender document states that besides construction of the tunnel, the contractor will also be responsible for its operation and maintenance over a period of seven years.First desalination plant in MaharashtraStory continues below this adThe proposal of constructing a desalination plant was first mooted in 2019 as a solution to counter the issue of growing water demand in Mumbai, which requires 4,250 MLD of water daily, while the civic body can serve only 3,900 MLD. This will be the first desalination plant in Maharashtra.A desalination plant is a facility where saline water from the sea is scientifically treated by removing salt and minerals to make it fit for consumption. Desalination plants are popular in countries like Israel that have minimal access to natural consumable water, like rivers and lakes, but are close to the sea.The plant will come up on a 12-hectare plot at Manori village, which is a fishing hamlet in northern Mumbai. The plot is owned by the state government, and civic officials said that the process of transferring the land to the BMC is in the final stage. The civic body will shell out Rs 11,166 crore to construct the desalination plant.At present, Mumbai is dependent on seven lakes – Tulsi, Vihar, Tansa, Bhatsa, Modak Sagar, Upper Vaitarna, and Middle Vaitarna – located in suburban Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Nashik for water supply. The catchment area of these lakes gets filled during the monsoon, following which water is transferred through pipelines and tunnels.Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India. Expertise & Authority Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai. Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in: Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting. City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region. Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis: National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019. State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019. Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis. Experience Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies: Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014). Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express. Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:BMC