metro india news  I hyderabad

In a decisive push to revive one of the ambitious infrastructure projects, Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy announced resumption of works on the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel.

The Minister chaired a key review meeting held with top brass of the Irrigation department at his secretariat chamber on Sunday. He said the work on the project stalled after the February 22, 2025 tunnel roof collapse, and will resume with advanced tunnelling methodology.

Giving renewed momentum to the project works, the Minister made it clear that SLBC tunnel project, a key component of the Alimineti Madhava Reddy Project (AMRP) initiated in 1983, is of high priority for the government. Spanning approximately 44 km with access only from two ends—the Srisailam inlet and Devarkonda outlet—it will be the longest tunnel in the world excavated without intermediate shifts upon completion.

The tunnel originates from the left bank of the Srisailam reservoir and is designed to irrigate 300,000 acres in drought-prone regions of Telangana while supplying drinking water to fluoride-affected villages. To date, excavation progress stands at 13.94 km from the inlet side and 20.4 km from the outlet, leaving about 9.8 km remaining (including 9.4 km actual distance plus contingency).

The Minister directed that works must proceed simultaneously from both ends.

TBM wreckage removed. The site has been fully cleared and prepared, including the removal of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) from the outlet, paving the way for resumption. Citing site-specific geological challenges, the decision has been made to abandon the TBM in favour of advanced tunnelling methods. This shift follows the completion of a helicopter-borne VTEM Plus Magnetic Geophysical Survey, sanctioned by the Telangana government and conducted by leading scientists from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Uttam Kumar Reddy said.

The Minister further stated that the aerial electromagnetic survey has provided critical data on rock conditions, enabling the installation of an advance warning system for poor rock zones. Additionally, 3D monitoring systems are planned, allowing support structures to be deployed based on geological forecasts. On the contractor front, JP Infra will continue as the executing agency. To safeguard project funds, an escrow account has been established with bank and legal approvals secured. This mechanism ensures protected, project-specific allocation of finances, allowing SLBC tunnel works to resume without disruption, he said.

The Minister instructed Principal Secretary Rahul Bojja and other officials to clear all pending payments to the implementation agency enabling it to execute the works avoiding delays. Emphasizing workforce mobilisation, the agency has been directed to prepare equipment and manpower, with provisions to shift resources from other projects if needed.

"Operations will run round-the-clock in three shifts to accelerate progress. Concerned officers must remain on-site for quicker decision-making on design, safety, and related issues," Uttam Kumar Reddy said.