Metrowater station improvement work nearing completion

The project will benefit residents of localities in and around Kilpauk

Newly constructed over hear drinking water tank Kilpauk water works. at New Avadi Road, Chennai. Photo S_Thanthoni.

Residents of Kilpauk and the neighbouring areas could soon look forward to improved water supply as the work at the Chennai Metrowater's Kilpauk water distribution station is nearing completion.

Aimed at providing an equal distribution of water supply to all households and coverage of tail-end pockets, the work was initiated in 2007 under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission at a cost of nearly Rs.51 crore.

Motorists passing by the Kilpauk Water Works, known for its heritage value, often stop to take a look at the huge overhead tank of nine million litre capacity constructed as part of the project. The tank has been designed in such a way that it does not mar the aesthetics of the other structures that are almost a century-old.

According to Metrowater's website, apart from strengthening the pumping station, an underground tank of 35.85 ML capacity was also being added. With the new facilities, the distribution station's storage capacity would be 93 million litres. Sources said that nearly 95 per cent of the work in the Kilpauk water distribution station has been completed.

However, the strengthening of water supply distribution network is still under way. Additional lines are being laid along the existing pipeline in some areas. In a few localities, the old lines are being replaced. Nearly 70 per cent of the work to strengthen the pipeline for a distance of 167 km has been completed. This includes provision of 1,100-mm diameter pipeline on the New Avadi Road for a stretch of about two km.

The scheme would be beneficial to residents of various areas, including Kilpauk, Anna Nagar, Ayanavaram, Chetpet, Purasawalkam, Egmore and Pulianthope.

Of the other three water distribution stations in the city – K.K.Nagar, Anna Poonga (Mint) and Southern Head works (Valluvar Kottam) – work has been completed in Southern Head works at a cost of nearly Rs.2 crore.

Work is in progress to strengthen distribution network in Mint, K. K. Nagar, Triplicane and Valluvar Kottam zone, running to a total length of about 140 km. The entire project worth Rs.337 crore is slated to be completed by this year-end.