Mumbai Secures CRZ Nod For ₹3,000 Crore Dharavi–Bhandup Recycled Water Tunnel

Mumbai’s long-term water sustainability plans have taken a significant step forward after regulatory clearance was granted for the proposed tunnel transporting tertiary-treated wastewater from Dharavi to the Bhandup Water Treatment Complex. The project, executed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), forms part of the city’s broader infrastructure effort to increase recycled water use and safeguard future supply.

Officials confirmed that the approval under Coastal Regulatory Zone norms now enables the estimated ₹3,000-crore tunnel project to enter its construction phase. The infrastructure will run underground for 8.48 kilometres at depths exceeding 140 metres, and is designed to carry up to 416 million litres per day (MLD) of treated wastewater to the Bhandup filtration facility. The tunnel forms one component of a much larger ₹27,000-crore modernisation programme involving seven sewage treatment plants across Worli, Bandra, Ghatkopar, Dharavi, Malad, Versova, and Bhandup. Once operational, these upgraded plants are expected to treat roughly 2,464 MLD of sewage. Half of this volume is planned for tertiary treatment—water clean enough for industrial, construction, horticulture, and potentially future potable use.

A senior municipal official noted that although the immediate plan is non-potable application, global precedents show reclaimed water eventually supporting drinking supply. “Cities facing water stress increasingly rely on advanced reuse systems. Mumbai must plan ahead, not react later,” the official said. Mumbai currently supplies around 3,850–4,000 MLD of freshwater daily, falling short of the estimated demand of 4,500 MLD. The gap is further widened by losses attributed to network leakage, theft and meter inefficiencies, resulting in approximately 34% non-revenue water—nearly equal to the output of an entire dam.

Urban water specialists argue that recycled water infrastructure is no longer optional for coastal, climate-risk cities. With unpredictable rainfall patterns and rapid urbanisation, reliance on distant reservoirs alone is viewed as increasingly unsustainable. Reuse systems, when integrated with efficient distribution and demand management, could reduce ecological burden on river basins and lower energy requirements for water transport. However, experts also stress the need for transparency, public engagement, and robust monitoring frameworks. Cities that have successfully transitioned to recycled potable systems, such as Singapore and Windhoek, invested heavily in public education to build trust.

For Mumbai, the clearance marks both progress and responsibility. As construction moves ahead, the project will likely play a role in shaping long-term resilience frameworks and support more equitable distribution in a city where informal settlements still struggle with reliable access.

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Mumbai Secures CRZ Nod For ₹3,000 Crore Dharavi–Bhandup Recycled Water Tunnel