Major Breakthrough in SLBC Tunnel Works

The Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel project has achieved a major breakthrough, with excavation teams successfully crossing the highly challenging geological shear zone in the area where an earlier accident occurred. The zone consists of weak and unstable rock formations and had posed a major challenge to the tunnelling work. Around 700 metres of excavation has been completed over the past five to six months.

The 43.968-km main tunnel is now around 79% complete, with approximately 9.1 km of excavation remaining. Additional equipment is being deployed to accelerate the work, while an advanced electric locomotive is expected to arrive from Germany to support operations inside the tunnel. The government has set a target of providing water through the project by June 2028, while placing a strong focus on worker safety.