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Key Points

Chennai Metrowater is replacing 40-year-old sewer lines in northern areas at a cost of Rs 946 crore. The upgrade will cover 213 km, benefiting over 20 lakh residents in Royapuram and Tondiarpet. New pump stations and odour control systems will be installed to improve sewage flow. The project is expected to finish by June 2026, with partial work already underway.

Key Points: Chennai Metrowater Rs 946-crore sewer line upgrade to benefit 20 lakh residents

  • Rs 946-crore project to upgrade 213 km of aging sewer lines
  • Larger 400 mm pipes to replace narrow 200 mm lines
  • New pump stations in Kolathur and Villivakkam to prevent reverse flow
  • MLA J.J. Ebenzer demands wider fund allocation for Kasimedu and Tondiarpet
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Chennai Metrowater to replace 40-year-old sewer lines in city at Rs 946-crore outlay

Chennai replaces 40-year-old sewer lines across 213 km in northern areas, including Royapuram and Tondiarpet, to fix blockages and reverse flow issues.

"We will build 200-500 new machine holes in each zone for quick maintenance access. – T.G. Vinay, Metrowater MD"

Chennai, Aug 9

In a major infrastructure upgrade aimed at ending persistent sewage issues in the northern parts of the city, the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (Metrowater) has announced plans to replace the entire 40-year-old sewer network in key neighbourhoods.

The Rs 946-crore project, taken up under the Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam, will cover 213 km of sewer lines, benefitting more than 20 lakh residents in areas such as Royapuram, Tondiarpet and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar.

The existing pipelines, many of which are prone to reverse flow, blockages and frequent breakages, will be replaced with larger-diameter pipes to handle the increased sewage load.

The main lines, currently 200 mm wide, will be expanded to 400 mm. Metrowater has engaged Sai Engineering Consultants to prepare the detailed designs for the works, which will commence shortly.

Metrowater Managing Director T.G. Vinay in a statement said the project would also include odour control systems at sewage treatment plants, along with the installation of 126 new pump sets and 41 diesel generators to fast-track the flow.

"We will also build between 200 and 500 new machine holes in each zone, enabling quick access for maintenance workers. Additional sewage pumping stations are planned in Kolathur and Villivakkam to address complaints of reverse flow," he said. The works are scheduled for completion by June 2026, though some have already begun.

Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar MLA J.J. Ebenzer welcomed the project but expressed concerns over the allocation of funds.

"Around 40 per cent of the estimated cost is earmarked for RK Nagar, but this will not be sufficient. We must also include Kasimedu and Tondiarpet, where the lines are over 30 years old. Narrow, rusted pipes often break, causing road sinkage," he said.

Royapuram MLA Idream Murthy said that six projects have been sanctioned for his constituency.

"We are replacing sewer lines in several bus route roads, including Mint, Cemetery Road and Old Washermenpet. The work is being carried out in patches to minimise inconvenience to the public. As per government instructions, no digging will be permitted after September 15, so 50 per cent of the pipeline work will be completed before that date, with the rest taken up after January," he said.

Metrowater officials believe the upgraded sewer network will significantly improve sewage flow and reduce maintenance problems, marking a major step forward in modernising the city's core infrastructure.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good initiative but 946 crores is a huge amount! Hope there's proper transparency in spending. The MLA is right - more areas need coverage. Why only focus on RK Nagar when other neighborhoods suffer equally?
R
Rohit P
About time! The current pipes are older than me 😅 But please coordinate with other departments - every time they dig roads, they damage something else. Need better planning to avoid repeated digging.
S
Sarah B
As an expat living in Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, I'm impressed by Chennai's infrastructure push. The odour control systems are much needed - the smell near treatment plants is awful during summer. Hope this makes the city more livable!
K
Karthik V
They should first fix the water logging issues. Every monsoon, our area turns into a swimming pool because the drainage can't handle the load. Bigger pipes are good, but need comprehensive solution.
M
Meera T
Good to see infrastructure development, but what about the traffic chaos during construction? Our roads are already congested. Hope they stick to the schedule and finish work quickly without causing too much disruption.
D
David E
This is the kind of long-term planning Indian cities need. Not just patchwork repairs but complete system overhauls. The diesel generators for backup power is a smart move -

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