India, June 4 -- Construction of the proposed Gargai dam, a key water supply project aimed at augmenting Mumbai's future water needs, is expected to begin in October 2026, with the reservoir likely to be filled by May 2029. The announcement was made by Abhijit Bangar, additional municipal commissioner (projects) at the standing committee on Wednesday.

The project includes a 69-metre-high dam near Ogada village and a 2.2-km tunnel that will channel water to the Modak Sagar reservoir. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has targeted completion of the project by May 2029 and had proposed a budgetary provision of Rs.437.51 crore for the Gargai project in its 2026-27 Budget Estimates.

Bangar said the dam will use roller compacted co...