Mithi River Rejuvenation Project: BMC To Invite Bids For Third Phase Based On Revised Tender

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to float a new tender for the third phase of the Mithi river rejuvenation project.

The civic body plans to rejuvenate the river by widening, improving water quality, curbing river pollution, creating a sewer network, constructing desilting access roads, beautifying river banks and building Sewage Treatment Plants.

The river rejuvenation project is being executed in four phases.

While the work on the first phase is nearing completion, 30 to 35% of the work is complete in the project's second phase.

The revision to the Rs2,156 crore third phase tender will incorporate feedback and suggestions from prospective bidders.

Given that the promenade work is a crucial component of the third phase and requires shifting of people living in settlements on both sides of the river, the prospective bidders mooted a separate funding plan to rehabilitate the project-affected people.

In October 2022, the BMC floated two tenders worth nearly Rs 2,100 crore for third phase works between CST Bridge and Prem Nagar outfall, CST Bridge to Mahim Causeway, and to construct an 8.5 km-long promenade along the river.

The third phase comprises sewer line work of 7.6 kilometres, a retaining wall of 7.4 km, service roads of 6.4 km, 28 interceptors, 26 gate pumps, three small sewage pumping stations and 8.85 km of beautification of the river, including a promenade. It also includes landscaping and plantation as well.

The first phase of the Mithi River Improvement Programme aimed to stop the river's pollution.

As part of the first phase, a 1.5km-long sewage line parallel to Mithi at Andheri East, an 800 MLD capacity sewage treatment plant (STP) near L&T n Powai and a pumping station is being constructed.

In this phase, BMC also sought to improve water quality in a 2 km stretch at Filterpada, Powai. The stretch had sewer outlets that directly opened out into the river. These nullahs come from residential areas and contain large amounts of trash. The corporation laid new interceptor sewer lines parallel to the Mithi running from Vihar lake to its water plant in Powai. The trash is intercepted before entering the Mithi and directed into a sewage treatment plant.

The objective first phase of work was to capture sewage from the slums around Andheri and near Powai, take it to the STP through the sewerage network, treat it with advanced techniques, and release it into the river to maintain its flow throughout the year.

The ongoing second phase includes the construction of a retaining wall and service road and laying of a sewer line from the WSP compound, Powai, to CST road in Kurla, with an estimated cost of Rs 570 crore.

The project's fourth phase includes the construction of a tunnel from Bapat nalla to Safed Pool Nalla to the Dharavi Waste Water Treatment Facility, amounting to Rs455 crore. The civic administration has made provision of Rs654.44 crore for work of phase 2 and phase 3 of the Mithi river during 2023- 24.

The long-term plan is to create tourism around the river to attract people and keep encroachers away. A 9.3 km service road along both banks is proposed to be beautified for a walkway or cycling. The BMC also plans to start boating after releasing treated water into the river to maintain the flow.

BMC and MMRDA have so far spent Rs 1,150 crore on the project.

Originating at Powai, the 17.84 km long river flows through densely populated residential areas and industrial spots, including Jarimari, Bail Bazar, Old Airport Road, Kalina (CST road), Vakola, Bandra-Kurla complex, Dharavi and meets the Arabian Sea at Mahim creek. It serves a dual purpose of a sewer for the area carrying sewage and stormwater to sea.

The location of Mithi river is an important administrative boundary that divides the city and the Suburbs. Flooding in the river has direct or indirect implications for disrupting traffic on five transport corridors; Central Railway Main Line, Central Railway, Harbor Line, Western Railway Line, Western Express Highway, and Eastern Express Highway.