UGD projects gather pace across Tiruchi

Tiruchi Corporation is expediting the expansion of its underground drainage (UGD) network, with major projects covering several parts of the city either completed or nearing completion.

The Corporation is implementing UGD projects under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme and the Smart Cities Mission through four components — Phase II, Phase III, Phase IV, and a revamping project.

Under Phase II, implemented at ₹377.29 crore, the UGD network fully covers 19 wards and partially covers five. The project involved laying 287.7 km of sewer pipelines and 32.505 km of sewage pumping lines, construction of 11,077 manholes, six sub-pumping stations and 37 lifting stations. Provision was also made for 34,159 household and commercial service connections. All works under the phase have been completed.

The Phase III project, taken up at a cost of ₹425.72 crore, fully covers four wards and partially covers 12 and is nearing completion. The project includes a 302.283-km sewer pipeline network, of which 302.277 km has been laid. Of the planned 32 km of sewage pumping lines, 31.907 km has been completed. The project also includes six sub-pumping stations and 24 lifting stations. Out of 12,013 manholes planned, 12,016 have been completed. Work is under way to provide 38,061 underground sewer connections.

Under the Smart Cities Mission, revamping works are being carried out in 30 wards at ₹210 crore and they are nearing completion. So far, 178.738 km of sewer pipelines and 4.022 km of sewage pumping pipelines have been laid. Of the 17 lifting stations planned, 16 have been completed, along with 7,606 manholes. Around 22,175 service connections are to be provided under the project.

UGD works under Phase IV are being implemented in the uncovered portions of eight wards at a cost of ₹230.61 crore. The phase envisages laying 143.650 km of sewer pipelines, of which 60.393 km has been completed. Of the planned 35.080 km of pumping lines, 8.301 km has been laid. Work has also been completed on 2,856 of the 5,872 manholes. Construction is under way at seven of the nine pumping stations and 16 of the 17 lifting stations. Of the 16,500 proposed underground sewer connections, 7,305 have been provided.

Construction of the 100 MLD sewage treatment plant at Panjapur at a cost of ₹233.87 crore is also progressing. Around 88% of the work has been completed, and the Corporation expects to commission the plant by the end of 2026.