Global engineering and consultancy firms from Spain, Japan, and the Netherlands have shown strong interest in securing a key consultancy contract for Mumbai’s upcoming Gargai Dam project, marking another major step forward in the city’s ambitious water infrastructure expansion.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated the process to appoint a consultant after issuing the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) for the project’s construction phase. The selected consultancy will play a crucial role in overseeing design support, safety advisory, environmental planning, tree transplantation, and rehabilitation of displaced communities.
According to officials, the consultancy package is estimated at around ₹25 crore, and firms including Japan’s Nippon Koei, along with companies from Spain and the Netherlands, are in the race for the assignment.
The proposed Gargai Dam, located in Ogada village in Wada taluka of Palghar district, is a critical infrastructure project aimed at strengthening Mumbai’s long-term water supply. Once completed, it is expected to add 440 million litres per day (MLD) to the city’s drinking water capacity.
However, the project comes with significant environmental and rehabilitation challenges. Authorities plan to manage the transplantation of nearly 3 lakh trees, along with large-scale compensatory afforestation across 658 hectares in districts including Washim, Chandrapur, and Hingoli. Additionally, displaced villagers will be relocated to Devali, with resettlement planning forming a key part of the consultancy scope.
The dam project is scheduled over a four-year timeline, with the first phase dedicated to clearances and rehabilitation planning, followed by construction and infrastructure installation in subsequent stages.
While the project is moving ahead, it continues to face scrutiny over environmental concerns and pending approvals, with final design clearance resting with the Central Design Organisation in Nashik under the Maharashtra government.
