In Sleemanabad, Katni district of Madhya Pradesh, work is progressing on the most challenging engineering project—a 12-km water tunnel designed to carry Narmada water from Jabalpur’s Bargi Dam to Rewa, transforming the Vindhya region’s water supply.

Construction has been ongoing for 17 years, with about 95 percent of the work completed and the final 700 mtrs. expected to be finished by December 2025. Located 80 ft. underground, the tunnel faces constant water seepage, with nearly 20,000 litres entering every minute. 

Work had started in 2008 from the downstream end using an American Robbins boring machine, but it broke down in 2016. Following government intervention, Patel Engineering imported a Rs 130 crore German HKTMB machine to continue excavation from the upstream end, which remains operational today. This tunnel project is key to improving water supply infrastructure in the region.