CM Yadav inspects India's longest water tunnel in MP's Katni district

MP CM Mohan Yadav inspected India's longest water tunnel, the Sleemanabad Tunnel in Katni. The historic project will carry Narmada water to the Son Basin, providing irrigation to around 2.45 lakh hectares of agricultural land across six districts.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Friday inspected India's longest water tunnel, Sleemanabad Tunnel, in Katni district, and said the "historic milestone" will carry Narmada water to the Son Basin and provide irrigation to around 2.45 lakh hectares of agricultural land across the state.

The nearly Sleemanabad Carrier Canal tunnel, built by Patel Engineering Limited-led consortium, marks a major milestone in strengthening Madhya Pradesh's irrigation network. As India's longest irrigation tunnel, it is expected to provide assured irrigation to nearly 2.45 lakh hectares of farmland across four districts, improving water availability and boosting agricultural productivity.

The tunnel is a key part of the Bargi Diversion Project, being developed by the Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA). The project will carry water from the Bargi Dam on the Narmada River through a 197-km trans-valley canal, benefiting thousands of farmers. Besides irrigation, it will also supply 284 million litres of water per day for domestic and industrial use in Jabalpur and Katni, strengthening the region's long-term water security.

The 11.952-km-long Sleemanabad Tunnel with a diameter of 10.14 metres has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 1,600 crore. It will transport Narmada water to the Son Basin through gravity flow without the use of pumps, strengthening irrigation facilities in Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Panna and Rewa districts. The tunnel is a part of a 197-km trans-valley canal of the Bargi Diversion Project being developed by the Narmada Valley Development Authority. It extends between the 104th and 116th kilometre of the canal and passes beneath national highways, railway lines, underground utilities and populated areas without causing structural damage. It will assure irrigation to nearly 2.45 lakh hectares of farmland across about 1,450 villages in Jabalpur, Katni, Satna, Maihar, Rewa and Panna districts.

CM Yadav Hails 'Historic Milestone'

Addressing the media after inspection, CM Yadav said, "After continuous efforts spanning 17 years, the dream of the Sleemanabad Tunnel has been realised in 2026. Despite numerous technical challenges, engineers and experts achieved this historic milestone through their determination. Through this tunnel, Narmada water will reach the Vindhya region, providing irrigation to around 2.5 lakh hectares of agricultural land. It is an outstanding example of science, engineering and water management that will usher in prosperity for farmers and accelerate the region's development."

The Chief Minister said the project had been completed at an estimated cost of around Rs 1,600 crore, of which Rs 275 crore was provided by the central government under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while the remaining expenditure was borne by the Madhya Pradesh government. "What once seemed impossible has been made possible. This ambitious project will improve irrigation and drinking water availability in Panna, Katni, Satna, Maihar, Rewa and adjoining areas, providing long-term benefits to lakhs of people and farmers," he said.

'A Historic Gift for Farmers'

The Chief Minister also congratulated officials of the Water Resources Department and engineers involved in the construction of the tunnel. "Despite all the challenges, our officers and the irrigation department team completed the Sleemanabad Tunnel with dedication and efficiency. This is a historic gift during the 'Farmer Welfare Year'. With two major canals set to become operational over the next three months, nearly one lakh hectares of additional land will come under irrigation, opening new avenues of prosperity for farmers in the Vindhya region," he added.

Tunnel construction faced major engineering challenges

Building the Sleemanabad Carrier Canal tunnel was one of the most demanding engineering tasks in India's irrigation sector. Engineers had to cut through a wide range of ground conditions, including residual soil, silt, alluvium, weathered limestone, dolomite, slate, crystalline limestone and fresh marble. Some of the rock formations had a strength of up to 180 MPa, making excavation extremely difficult.

The project also faced serious groundwater challenges. For the first 2.7 km, a highly permeable layer of boulders carrying groundwater lay just 2 to 3 metres above the tunnel, while the water table remained above the tunnel throughout construction. The alignment also passed beneath rural areas, densely populated urban settlements and even under a lake, adding to the complexity of the work.

Advanced tunnel boring machines used

Construction began with a 10-metre-diameter Hybrid Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) supplied by Robbins, which started excavation from the downstream end.

As work progressed and geological conditions became more challenging, a second hybrid EPB TBM from Herrenknecht was deployed from the upstream end. Both machines were designed to switch between hard-rock Single Shield mode and pressurised soft-ground EPB mode, allowing them to adapt to changing ground conditions and ensuring safe and efficient tunnelling.

Patel Engineering on the 'milestone'

Patel Engineering Limited Managing Director Kavita Shirvaikar described the breakthrough as a landmark achievement for both the company and the state's irrigation infrastructure.

She said the project would play an important role in improving water availability for agriculture and benefit lakhs of farmers across Madhya Pradesh. She added that Patel Engineering was proud to contribute to infrastructure that supports farming, strengthens rural livelihoods and delivers long-term benefits to local communities.

(With ANI inputs)