City to get new drinking water, sewage pipes

The massive project is expected to be carried out with funds from Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited (TNUIFSL) has issued three separate expression of interest (EoI) invitations to private consultants to prepare the detailed project reports (DPR). The consultants would study the entire water distribution and sewage system of the city and recommend works tobe undertaken.

According to an official, the existing water supply distribution system of 2,770 Kilometres in the old Chennai city limits, extending to 176 sq km, is inadequate to cater to the needs of the present population. “Also, the pipelines are also erratic, not equitable and have rusted. The project area would comprise present Chennai Corporation zones – Tondiarpet, Royapuram, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Anna Nagar, Teynampet, Kodambakkam and Adyar,” the official added.

Apart from replacing the old supply pipelines, the Metrowater has plans to replace the sewerage system in Tondiarpet, Royapuram and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar zones, where the sewerage system was built more than 50 years ago.

When asked the reason for taking up the project, the official said that the erratic pipelines, laid several years ago, was the reason for inadequate pressure, resulting in poor supply to the tail end areas. “While replacing the old and damaged pipelines, we will ensure equitable water supply to all the areas,” he said.

At present, the Metrowater attends to water seepage and lack of water pressure whenever the complaints arise. This is the first time after several decades that the replacement of the entire distribution system is being mooted.

Meanwhile, consultants are invited to prepare a geo-spatial map to mark all the aboveground and underground assets and utilities of the Metrowater, including pipelines. “Preparation of detail project reports will take 12 months. After that is done, we can arrive at estimates and other details. As we are laying new pipelines in the extended zones, we will not have to change the lines for the next 30 years,” the official said.