From Field Validation to Tender Specification: TSP Adoption in Maharashtra Water Tunnel Projects
The successful application of Tunnel Seismic Prediction (TSP) in the Jite–Hetawane Raw Water Tunnel Project marked a decisive turning point for the formal adoption of TSP as a risk-mitigation standard in major water infrastructure projects in Maharashtra, India.
Project Background: Jite-Hetawane Raw Water Tunnel
The Jite-Hetawane Raw Water Tunnel, an approximate 12 km long hard-rock tunnel excavated using an open TBM under the authority of City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO), encountered one of the most challenging geological conditions seen in recent Indian water tunnel projects. During TBM advance at around chainage 5,650 m, the project faced:
- Highly fractured basaltic rock mass
- Severe and sustained water ingress reaching up to 7,000 liters per minute
- Repeated stoppages impacting safety, productivity, and project timelines
At this critical stage, a TSP campaign was deployed 25 to 70 meters behind the cutter of the TBM to obtain a reliable geological prognosis beyond the excavation front—information that was otherwise unavailable through conventional methods.
TSP Intervention and Impact
The TSP investigation accurately identified:
- The presence and continuation of a water-bearing fractured zone ahead of the face
- Gradual changes in rock mass stiffness and seismic velocities
- A clearly defined end of the problematic water-bearing zone, where rock conditions were expected to improve
Armed with this forward-looking insight, the contractor, consultants, and CIDCO were able to:
- Develop a targeted excavation and groundwater management strategy
- Implement proactive safety and support measures
- Safely and efficiently traverse the critical zone without major incidents
The successful navigation of this high-risk section built strong confidence among all stakeholders in the accuracy, reliability, and practical value of TSP as a decision-support tool in hard-rock tunneling.
From Project Success to Policy Decision
Following the Jite-Hetawane experience, CIDCO conducted detailed technical discussions and internal evaluations of the role TSP played in mitigating geological risk and avoiding potential delays and cost overruns. The outcome was a strategic decision to institutionalize TSP as a standard risk-mitigation measure for future underground works.
This culminated in a major milestone of the formal inclusion of TSP specifications in the tender documents for the 22.21 km long Kondhane Dam (Village Chochi) to Water Treatment Plant (Village Mohope) Raw Water Tunnel Project, Maharashtra.
Significance of the Kondhane–Mohope Tender Inclusion
- Project Authority: CIDCO
- Tunnel Length: 22.21 km
- TBM Deployment: Up to four TBMs
- Application: Mandatory or specified use of TSP for geological prediction ahead of the tunnel face
This is another significant case in India where TSP was included directly in the tender specifications, thus becoming a contractual requirement beyond the pilot phase.
A Milestone for TSP in India
The transition from successful field application at Jite-Hetawane to formal tender adoption at Kondhane-Mohope represents a significant advancement for TSP in the Indian tunneling market. It demonstrates:
- Growing recognition of proactive subsurface risk management
- Increased maturity in tunneling practices for water supply infrastructure
- Expansion of TSP from Himalayan projects into urban and hard-rock water tunnels
This success not only strengthens TSP’s footprint in India but also sets a benchmark for integrating advanced geophysical prediction technologies into future underground infrastructure projects nationwide.
