Mumbai: BMC commissioner Ashwini Bhide on Wednesday directed officials to expedite work on the city’s upcoming 2,000 million litres per day (MLD) Bhandup Water Treatment Plant, describing it as a critical project for Mumbai’s long-term water security amid rising demand driven by population growth and urbanisation.
Inspection and Acceleration
During an inspection of the project site, Bhide instructed civic officials to accelerate civil, electrical, mechanical and process engineering works and explore measures to complete the project ahead of schedule.
The facility, spread across 7.4 hectares and targeted for completion by July 2028, is expected to replace the ageing 1,910 MLD treatment plant at Bhandup, which was commissioned over four decades ago and has become structurally weak.
Current Water Supply
Mumbai currently receives around 2,500 MLD of treated water through the Bhandup complex from the Tansa-Vaitarna system, which sources water from the Tansa, Modak Sagar, Middle Vaitarna and Upper Vaitarna reservoirs.
Bhide said work on soil testing, excavation, site barricading, relocation of transmission towers and plantation activities had gathered pace. She directed officials to deploy additional manpower and machinery and improve planning for excavation and debris disposal to ensure timely completion.
Sewage Treatment Plant
The BMC commissioner also reviewed the progress of the 215 MLD Bhandup Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and directed officials to commission the facility by October 2026.
The plant, one of seven STPs being developed by the BMC under its citywide sewerage improvement programme, will use advanced primary, secondary and tertiary treatment processes. Treated water from the facility will be suitable for industrial use, garden irrigation, public sanitation, construction and other non-potable purposes, reducing dependence on freshwater resources.
Officials said the project will also include scientific sludge treatment and is expected to reduce pollution in nearby water bodies while improving wastewater management.
Goregaon-Mulund Link Road
Bhide also inspected ongoing works under the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project, including the assembly of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) components for the twin tunnels near Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari and the underconstruction flyover between Dindoshi and Goregaon.
Calling the GMLR a key east-west connectivity project for Mumbai’s suburbs, Bhide directed engineers and contractors to ensure adequate deployment of manpower and equipment while maintaining quality and safety standards so that the project is completed within the stipulated timeline.
