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CIDCO Floats Tender for 22 km Raw-Water Tunnel, 250 MLD WTP — Big Water Boost for Panvel Neighbourhoods

  • Writer: Ajjay Bhagyakar
    Ajjay Bhagyakar
  • Oct 29
  • 4 min read
Raw-Water Tunnel
Source: X (RahulChels) and CIDCO / press reports

CIDCO has moved a major step forward in securing long-term water for Navi Mumbai and Panvel: bids have been invited for a roughly 22-kilometre raw-water tunnel (alignment reported from Kondhane Dam to Mohope village near Panvel) along with a 250 MLD (million litres per day) Water Treatment Plant — infrastructure that will lie immediately beside large residential nodes developed by Wadhwa, Hiranandani, Godrej and others. X (formerly Twitter)+1

What’s being built — the technical snapshot


CIDCO’s plan centres on conveying raw water from the Kondhane Dam (Ulhas River) into the Navi Mumbai / Panvel distribution network via a long raw-water tunnel, then treating it at a new 250 MLD WTP (with scope to scale in future). The tunnel length reported on social platforms and press items is approximately 22 km (alignment maps on social posts are indicative, not engineering-accurate). CIDCO’s broader programme also includes complementary conveyance works, shafts and pumping/jackwell infrastructure to connect into CIDCO’s existing supply grid. Construction World+1

Why 250 MLD matters: that capacity is a meaningful chunk of water for the Panvel–Navi Mumbai growth corridor and is consistent with CIDCO’s recent water planning that lists Kondhane as an initial 250 MLD source (scalable to 350 MLD) to meet projected demand. Free Press Journal+1


Where it sits — impact on Panvel’s large townships


The planned route and WTP sit close to high-density residential complexes developed by major builders (Wadhwa, Hiranandani, Godrej and others). For residents and property markets this has three immediate implications:

  1. Improved water security — a permanent, treated raw-water feed will reduce dependence on interim sources and tanker supply during lean months. Projects Today

  2. Less strain on local distribution — the new conveyance and treatment capacity will allow CIDCO/PMC to better balance supply across nodes including nearby Navi Mumbai nodes and Panvel city. Construction World

  3. Development tailwinds — reliable water is a key input for new residential and commercial approvals; proximity to large pipelines/WTPs can accelerate delivery of new phases and improve property valuations. The Times of India


Timeline and scale — what to expect


CIDCO’s public planning and recent press coverage point to a multi-year delivery horizon for its larger water programme (Kondhane and Balganga dam schemes are reported with 4–5 year build windows and full commissioning targets aligned with mid/late-2029 timeframes for some works). Smaller packages (tenders for tunnels, shafts, WTP components) are being let in phases so that civil, tunnelling and mechanical works proceed in parallel. Construction World+1

Note: social posts that show approximate alignments are helpful visuals but are not final engineering alignments — final route, shaft locations and environmental clearances will be set out in CIDCO’s tender and DPR documents. X (formerly Twitter)


Challenges and considerations ( Raw-Water Tunnel )


  • Land & alignment: large-diameter tunnels and WTPs require shaft sites, access roads and temporary works. Acquiring or using land near established residential areas needs careful planning to limit disruption. The Times of India

  • Environmental & hydrological approvals: Kondhane sits on the Ulhas river system — dam and diversion works, and downstream flows, will require regulatory checks. CIDCO’s earlier approvals and DPR work show these are active items. projectsmonitor.com

  • Traffic and construction impacts: long tunnelling projects have above-ground construction zones, material transport and shaft excavation — residents should expect phased traffic/street impacts during peak construction.

  • Coordination with PMC and utilities: treatment plant effluent handling, power supply for pumps, and distribution tie-ins will need inter-agency coordination (CIDCO, Panvel Municipal Corporation, irrigation/forest departments). The Economic Times


Upside for Panvel and local realty


For homeowners, developers and investors the tender is positive news: a large, committed water source reduces a key infrastructure risk for existing and future projects. For Griha Realty readers and property stakeholders, this could translate to better livability scores, fewer water-security complaints, and stronger demand fundamentals over the medium term as supply reliability improves. Free Press Journal+1

What to watch next

  1. Full tender/DPR upload on CIDCO website — look for the detailed tender documents and alignment drawings; these will confirm shaft locations and environmental conditions. Projects Today

  2. Environmental clearances & NOC timelines — these set critical path dates for construction start. projectsmonitor.com

  3. Contract awards & main contractor announcements — large tunnelling and WTP packages often go to specialised engineering firms and signal actual construction start. YouTube


Conclusion


CIDCO’s invitation for bids on the 22 km raw-water tunnel and 250 MLD WTP is a major infrastructure milestone for the Navi Mumbai / Panvel growth corridor. If delivered on schedule and with sensitive urban coordination, the scheme will substantially strengthen water security for major township pockets near Wadhwa, Hiranandani, Godrej and others — a clear positive for residents and the property market. We’ll keep tracking CIDCO’s tender portal and official releases for DPRs and contract award notices. X (formerly Twitter)+1


Published by: Griha Realty

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