New Delhi: Chennai’s water supply and sanitation infrastructure is set for a major upgrade, with the Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signing a $230 million loan agreement to modernise and expand services across the city.
The loan agreement for the Chennai Climate-Resilient Water Security and Sewerage Project was signed on August 21. The project will improve access to safe and reliable water supply and better sanitation services while strengthening Chennai’s resilience to climate change.
The loan documents were signed by Saurabh Singh, Deputy Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, on behalf of the Government of India, and Mio Oka, Country Director, India Resident Mission, on behalf of ADB.
The government’s engagement with ADB for finalisation of the loan was carried out under the guidance of Baldeo Purushartha, Joint Secretary (ADB & Japan), Department of Economic Affairs.
Under the project, more than 170 km of water supply and sewer pipes will be constructed across Chennai. Seven water pumping stations and 38 sewer pumping stations will also be upgraded.
The project will also strengthen water utility assets and operations management through performance-based contracts, with the aim of improving the efficiency and financial sustainability of the city’s urban water system.
Chennai will become the first Indian city to implement a comprehensive ring-main solution for its water supply network. The closed-loop plumbing system is designed to maintain balanced water pressure and deliver water efficiently across service areas.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the ring-main system is expected to improve the reliability and equity of water supply while making the network more resilient to natural hazards.
ADB will also support the digital transformation of Chennai’s water and sanitation services through real-time monitoring, data-driven decision-making and improved responsiveness to customers.
Advanced technologies will be introduced to eliminate hazardous manual sewer inspections, enable faster and safer detection of blockages and improve worker safety.
The project will also prepare distribution networks in at least two Greater Chennai zones for future investments.
ADB’s latest investment builds on its earlier projects in Chennai aimed at expanding access to safe and equitable water and waste management services. The project is also aligned with the Government of India’s urban development initiatives, including the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 and the Urban Challenge Fund.
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