Tunnel breakthrough for Hetawane project

Navi Mumbai: Overcoming complex geological, logistical and engineering challenges in the Deccan-Sahyadri region, the City and  Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd (CIDCO) has achieved a milestone in tunnel excavation for the first time by for augmentation of Hetawane Water Scheme.

The project is very important for the steadily increasing water demand of the rapidly developing Navi Mumbai.

This is one of the major projects for the CIDCO post the commissioning and operationalisation of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). 

This historic achievement was accomplished at Shaft-4 at Wahal village under CIDCO’s Water Tunnel Package-1. 

AFCONS Infrastructure Ltd is executing Package-1, which includes excavation of an 8.7-kilometre-long treated water tunnel, of which 5.52 kilometres of tunnelling work has been completed so far.

CIDCO engineers and the AFCONS team successfully carried out this historic tunnel excavation by overcoming several geological, engineering and planning challenges. The tunnel has been excavated at an approximate depth of 100 metres below ground level. 

The tunnel alignment passes through complex geological formations such as amygdaloidal basalt in the Deccan-Sahyadri region. 

Severe space constraints made equipment installation and manoeuvrability difficult, while movement of muck cars posed a major challenge in such tunnelling works.

However, through close coordination and concerted efforts of CIDCO engineers and the AFCONS team, these challenges were successfully overcome.

“I heartily congratulate CIDCO as well as the AFCON team for successfully accomplishing this historic achievement by overcoming several challenges. Within just a few months of completing the Navi Mumbai International Airport project, CIDCO has achieved yet another significant milestone,” CIDCO Vice Chairman and Managing Director Vijay Singhal said on Tuesday. 

“To meet the growing water demand of the Navi Mumbai region by 2050, CIDCO has undertaken several water supply schemes, of which the water tunnel work under the Hetawane Water supply Scheme is the most challenging. The remaining tunnel excavation work will also be completed within the planned timeframe. This will augment CIDCO’s water storage capacity and help provide additional water supply to Navi Mumbai,” he added. 

Under the scheme, a 13.25-kilometre tunnel for raw water and a 15.4-kilometre tunnel for treated water are being constructed. Upon completion of the project, CIDCO’s water supply will increase from the existing 150 million litres per day (MLD) to 270 MLD.