SLBC Tunnel Work Gains Pace, Operations Expected by June 2028
HYDERABAD: Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Monday said the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel will be ready for operations by June 2028. The project will draw water from the foreshore of the Srisailam reservoir to provide drinking water to 618 fluoride-affected villages and irrigate four lakh acres of farmland.
During a review meeting of the Alimineti Madhava Reddy (AMR) SLBC project, the minister directed officials to remove bottlenecks and resolve land acquisition issues. He also asked them to strengthen technical supervision and complete the tunnel and canal network together.
“The government is committed to completing the SLBC tunnel by June 2028. Whatever has to be done will be done,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said.
Work resumes with new technology
The minister said engineers have resumed work using advanced and safer technology instead of tunnel boring machines. He added that excavation at the outlet end on the Devarakonda side is progressing steadily.
“We are taking every precaution to ensure the safety of the teams working on the Srisailam side,” he said.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said the equipment needed to speed up work at the inlet side has reached Mumbai port. It is expected to reach the project site by the end of this month.
Safety remains the top priority
Authorities stopped work at the tunnel’s inlet section for more than a year after the February 2025 collapse that claimed the lives of eight tunnel workers.
The minister said officials must closely monitor the project’s progress. However, he stressed that they should never compromise on safety. He directed officials and contractors to follow the highest safety standards, provide adequate lighting throughout the tunnel, deploy senior geologists, engineers and technical experts, and maintain continuous quality checks.
“Protecting the workforce while meeting the project deadline is non-negotiable,” he said.
