Chennai’s Ageing Sewer System Set for Rs 4,000-Crore Overhaul

The sewerage system, half a century old in Chennai, might receive a major upgrade soon. Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board goes full steam for a makeover of Rs 4,000 crores. For STPs coming in two of these zones, a detailed project report is likely to be submitted by the month-end and it is by the end of next month in another two such zones.

There are four major STPs in Nesapakkam, Kodungaiyur, Koyambedu, and Perungudi, catering to zones 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 13. All these were constructed over 50 years ago, and for the past five decades, they have been fighting the challenge of not being able to cope with the rising demand.

CMWSSB hired the consultant Sai Consultants to survey the current sewer network, and as a result several problems such as low-capacity sewage pumping stations and mixed stormwater and sewage lines, were found. To address the same issues, the consultant has suggested that the old pipelines should be replaced by high-capacity ones, and new pumping stations would be built considering the future population up to 2060 in the city.

The estimated cost for this upgrade is Rs 4,000 crore and will be completed in three years, depending on the acquisition of funding from other sources. Once the DPR comes out, Chennai Metrowater will initiate measures to mobilize the required funds.

Residents in affected areas have welcomed the initiative but voiced concerns about persistent issues. V. Sandhya, representing the Federation of Anna Nagar Residents’ Associations, highlighted recurring sewage overflow in Anna Nagar’s M Block, citing the lack of infrastructure upgrades despite a significant population increase in recent decades.

This project is very crucial in resolving long-standing issues in Chennai’s core zones and ensuring that a robust sewer infrastructure to meet its future needs will certainly propel this city into much better urban living standards and ease some of the challenges arising from the inadequate sewage management within the city.