The Coimbatore City Corporation is pushing hard to launch its ambitious 24x7 water supply project commercially by February this year. Officials confirm that significant groundwork has already been completed, but some critical tasks remain unfinished.
Progress on Pipeline Work
Work on laying the main feeder pipeline is fully done. However, the distribution pipeline still needs to be installed along a 30-kilometer stretch. This pending section covers areas like Townhall, Gandhi Maa Nagar, Kothari Nagar, and parts of the east zone.
Service Connections Target
Corporation Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran stated that at least 1,35,000 house service connections must be provided to begin commercial operations. The corporation has set a higher target of 1,50,000 connections. So far, nearly one lakh connections have been successfully established.
Prabakaran explained, "Our goal is to achieve 1.50 lakh house service connections once we finish laying the distribution pipelines for the 30km stretch. If delays occur, we will aim for the minimum 1.35 lakh connections needed to start commercialization."
Trial Runs and Overhead Tanks
Most overhead tanks are already receiving water for trial runs. Out of the 32 overhead tanks under the project, only the one at Nanjundapuram is not yet filled. All others are operational and being tested.
Timeline and Challenges
The civic body plans to complete the pending pipeline work before the upcoming elections. They aim to officially launch the project by the end of February. With approximately 40 days left, work is being expedited to meet this deadline.
This massive project, costing Rs 646.71 crore, began in 2019. Its original completion date was 2023. However, delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and labour shortages forced multiple extensions. Now, after overcoming these hurdles, the project is finally expected to be ready next month.
Project Scope and Benefits
Once operational, the project will provide uninterrupted drinking water supply to all 60 wards of Coimbatore under the old delimitation. This initiative promises to significantly improve the quality of life for city residents by ensuring reliable water access around the clock.
