Engineering Marvel: 12-km Tunnel to Bring Narmada Water to Rewa

In Sleemanabad, Katni district of Madhya Pradesh, work is nearing completion on one of the region’s most complex infrastructure undertakings—a 12-km-long tunnel designed to transport Narmada water from Jabalpur’s Bargi Dam to Rewa, with the goal of transforming the water supply across the Vindhya region.

Construction began in 2008 and is now approximately 95% complete, with the remaining 700 meters expected to be finished by December 2025. Located 80 feet below ground, the tunnel presents significant engineering challenges, including continuous water ingress of nearly 20,000 litres per minute.

Initially, excavation began from the downstream side using an American Robbins tunnel boring machine, which broke down in 2016. Following government intervention, Patel Engineering resumed work from the upstream end using a German-manufactured HKTMB machine worth ₹130 crore, which continues to operate effectively.

This tunnel is a critical component of the region’s water infrastructure upgrade and will play a pivotal role in addressing long-standing water scarcity across the Vindhya plateau.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.