To augment and strengthen the bulk water supply infrastructure for the rapidly growing residential, commercial, and industrial nodes of Navi Mumbai and the Raigad district, the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (CIDCO) commissioned the Augmentation of Water Supply Scheme. The primary objective of the project is to convey raw and treated water efficiently from regional reservoirs, significantly expanding water distribution capacity to over 270 MLD while minimizing surface disruption, environmental impact, and transmission losses across dense urban and suburban regions.
For the execution of these critical underground bulk water conveyance corridors, advanced mechanized tunnelling technology was deployed to navigate complex rock formations, predominantly consisting of hard basalt and jointed rock structures typical of the Deccan Traps. Three Herrenknecht Shielded Gripper TBMs were deployed for the tunnelling works. The machines were equipped with specialized cutter systems, advanced probe drilling units and continuous ground-support systems to ensure safe, rapid and precise excavation under challenging geological conditions.
The three TBMs have been utilized for the construction of the underground water conveyance tunnels connecting key areas including Sai Village, Vindhane, Mohope and surrounding regions. The first TBM completed its tunnelling activity in 2025, while the other two are ongoing. Together, the three machines contributed to the execution of the critical underground water conveyance corridors under the Mumbai CIDCO Water Tunnel project.