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Breakthrough of 2.7 km tunnel completed using TBM technology at depths 60 meters, reinforcing PEL's EPC leadership in urban infrastructure under its partnership with MCGM

Patel Engineering Limited, a leading infrastructure and construction services company in India, announces the successful tunnel breakthrough of the Powai Ghatkopar Remaining Works (PGRW) project. The project is being executed for the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM).

The breakthrough marks the completion of two main segments, 2.045 km from the SCI shaft to the Ghatkopar High-Level Reservoir (HLR) and 0.742 km from Ghatkopar HLR to the Low-Level Reservoir (LLR) of underground tunnelling using Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology, an advanced, minimally disruptive method ideal for dense urban environments. The contract is being executed by Patel Engineering as the sole private partner under an Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) framework for MCGM, reinforcing the company's credentials as a fully self-reliant EPC player in complex infrastructure delivery.

Once completed, the Powai-Ghatkopar water tunnel project will serve as a vital upgrade to Mumbai's water infrastructure, dramatically enhancing supply reliability and quality in the eastern suburbs by replacing ageing surface pipelines with a robust underground transmission system. With advanced tunnelling technologies, the tunnel will minimise leakage, contamination, and disruptions from surface-level construction, while efficiently channelling water to Ghatkopar's reservoirs under real-time monitoring. This project is set to ensure long-term sustainability, operational efficiency, and greater resilience in water distribution for millions of residents.

Constructed with environmental safety and urban impact in mind, the tunnel runs beneath densely populated areas. TBM technology was chosen to ensure high precision with minimal surface disruption. The machine, custom-built for local geology, operates at a depth of approximately 60 meters, with an excavated diameter of 2.80 meters and finished internal diameter of 2.20 meters, and is designed to maintain excavation efficiency across variable soil profiles.

Commenting on the achievement, Ms. Kavita Shirvaikar, Managing Director of Patel Engineering Ltd, said, “The PGRW breakthrough stands as a clear example of how complex infrastructure can be delivered responsibly and independently, with long-term urban benefit in mind. I commend our teams for executing this project with precision and discipline under challenging urban conditions beneath one of India's most densely populated cities. We are proud to contribute to building the infrastructure backbone of India's cities with complete dedication, efficiency, and sustainability and improving the lives of residents in the eastern suburbs of Mumbai city.”

The successful breakthrough demonstrates Patel Engineering's continued expertise in deploying Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology for complex underground infrastructure in dense urban environments. While the Sela Pass Tunnel Project in Arunachal Pradesh was completed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), the experience gained from such geotechnically challenging projects continues to enhance PEL's in-house technical depth and execution capabilities across diverse tunnelling environments.