Old Tansa pipelines to be replaced at a cost of Rs 386cr

Mumbai: To ensure that the Tansa water supply system is functional even in case of an emergency, the Brihanmumbai Munic-ipal Corporation (BMC), has decided to replace two 90 year-old pipelines from Balkum to Hajuri Bridge at Thane and from Hajuri Bridge to Saddle Tunnel at Bhandup.  Once replaced, their capacity will also be extended up to 3000 metre diameter.

In the first phase, a 3000 mm diameter and 4.5 meter long pipeline will be laid from Balkum to Hajuri bridge, and in the second, a 3000 mt diameter and 4.9 metre long pipeline will be laid from Hajuri bridge to Saddle Tunnel bridge. The BMC will spend a total of Rs 386 crore on both these works, which are likely to take 36 months to complete.

According to civic officials, these two pipelines were laid in 1926, at a distance of 64 kms from Tansa to Powai, to supply water to Mumbai. Alongside them, the civic body later laid two more mains – Vaitarana and Upper Vaitarana.

“The BMC has undertaken a project to replace old Tansa pipelines, which are nearly 100 years old. Since these mains are old, they cannot sustain high water pressure and there is a possibility of bursts,” said a senior civic official.

The civic body has also set up a Bhandup Complex-Gundavali tunnel, which can also be useful in fetching water from Gargai and Pinjal projects in the future, he added.