Work on Malabar Hill reservoir to start post-monsoon

Once the project starts the Hanging Garden will be uprooted in a phased manner. Pic/Bipin Kokate

To increase the water storage capacity, the BMC plans to commence the work on the 140-year-old Malabar Hill water reservoir post-monsoon. As per the plan, a new reservoir will be constructed first and then the reconstruction work of the old one will begin.

The Hanging Garden which is on the top of the reservoir will be uprooted and the work of reservoirs will be carried out for eight long years. However, the plan for the restoration of the garden is not yet finalised.

The Malabar reservoir has a water storage capacity of 147.78 million litres, which is supplied to A-ward (Colaba, Fort, Nariman Point), C-ward (Girgaum) and D-ward (Malabar Hill, Tardeo). As per the structural audit in 2017, the life of the reservoir is over and it needs to be reconstructed.

Rise in cost of the project

The estimated cost of the project in 2018 was Rs 308 crore. However, the total cost of the project now is Rs 698.50 crore including taxes and surcharges. The BMC had invited tenders in June 2021 and the work was allotted to M/s Skyway Infra Projects Pvt Ltd. which is the lowest bidder and quoted 40 per cent more than the estimated.

"The rate of structural steel and concrete increased sharply in the past three years. The minimum daily wage has also increased. Even the period of work is eight years so the cost is on the higher side," said an official from the BMC. The BMC will pay if additional work arises which cannot be predicted now.

The big plan

There are five compartments in the main reservoir - 1 A, 1 B, 2 A, 2 B and 1 C. An additional reservoir on the west side of the old reservoir will be constructed. The capacity of the reservoir will increase to 191 million litres in seven compartments and its life will be around 100 years. A temporary iron tank of 14 million litres will be placed for uninterrupted water supply.

"The project has been sanctioned by the standing committee and the groundwork will start after the monsoon. We will construct the new reservoir and then the work of reconstruction of the older one will commence. After the work on the reconstruction of one compartment starts, water will be supplied from the other compartments, which will ensure uninterrupted supply," said an engineer from the water project department. The work also includes reconstruction of the retaining stone wall into the RCC wall, laying of water pipeline beneath the road and reconstruction of the road.

Garden to be uprooted

"The garden is on the top of the reservoir so it has to be uprooted. The work will be done in six phases. The hydraulic engineer department will restore the garden after completion of the work. Entry ito the area will be restricted as there may be unpredictable situations," said Vasant Gaikwad, chief of the water project department.

Sanjay Arte, chief of BMC's Hydraulic Engineering Department did not respond to calls.

Rs 698.50cr
Total cost of the project