Pune: 28-Km Tunnel From Khadakwasla To Phursungi To Be Completed In Three Years; Excavation Work Begins
Pune: 28-Km Tunnel From Khadakwasla To Phursungi To Be Completed In Three Years; Excavation Work Begins
Pune, October 15, 2025: A 28-kilometre-long tunnel connecting Khadakwasla and Phursungi is set to become a major water infrastructure project in Pune, with construction now underway. The Maharashtra Water Resources Department has received written approval from the Central Environment Authority to proceed with the project, paving the way for full-scale excavation work.
Blasting work for the tunnel has already begun, with all necessary permissions obtained from concerned departments, including the police. The first phase of the project has picked up pace at Vadachi Wadi and Uruli Devachi, where excavation is progressing rapidly.
As per report in Maharashtra Times, the new Mutha Right Bank Canal, spanning around 34 kilometres, is being developed under the Khadakwasla project. The existing canal has faced issues of encroachment, pollution, and silt accumulation, which reduced its carrying capacity from 2,000 cusecs to 1,200 cusecs. To prevent further losses caused by water leakage, theft, and evaporation, the department proposed constructing an underground tunnel between Khadakwasla and Phursungi.
Following technical reviews and recommendations from the Central Environment Board, final approval was granted recently. The Water Resources Department has awarded the contract to a Hyderabad-based company, with a target to complete the project within the next two and a half to three years.
Officials confirmed that permissions for controlled blasting have been secured. The company has also set up an RMC plant, crusher unit, quality control laboratory, and a dedicated Quality Control Wing to oversee safety and engineering standards. Land required for the project has been taken on lease from farmers in nearby villages.
The tunnel will have a diameter of 6.3 metres and will feature cement concrete lining, rock bolts, and shotcrete techniques for durability.
Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil stated that the company has been issued a work order and directed to commence work immediately. “There is no need to delay the project for a foundation ceremony. The focus should be on timely execution,” he said.
Currently, around 150 workers from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu — including engineers and project managers — are engaged in the tunnel’s first phase. The excavation process, using drill-and-blast techniques, is progressing at a war footing.
Officials from the department confirmed that the project is being closely monitored and remains on track to be completed within the stipulated timeframe.
