Vijay launches ₹ 3,108-cr. ring pipeline project for equitable drinking water supply

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, who on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the closed circular loop project at Chennai Metro’s Sholinganallur petrol station. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the circular pipeline system, a project to link various water sources in Chennai at a cost of ₹ 3,108.55 crore.

The project aims to ensure equitable and uninterrupted supply of drinking water to the residents of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) area.

It is implemented by the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB).

Mr. Vijay launched the closed circular loop project at Sholinganallur, Chennai metro station.

According to an official report, the major water sources include Puzhal, Cholavaram, Veeranam, Chembarambakkam, Thervoy Kandigai-Kannankottai and Poondi reservoirs and the Krishna river. Water from these sources is treated at treatment plants at Puzhal, Surapet, Kilpauk, Chembarambakkam and Veeranam.

The supply infrastructure also includes a desalination plant in Minjur and two desalination plants in Nemmeli.

From these sources, CMWSSB currently supplies 1,260 million liters of treated and safe drinking water per day (MLD) through 143 distribution stations to meet the needs of approximately 91 million people in the GCC region.

The infrastructure is currently designed to supply water from individual water treatment plants through primary pipes to designated parts of the city. However, there is no adequate alternative provision for water supply if any of the water sources or water treatment plants are interrupted.

To address this issue, the project will link all nine treatment plants in the city – five water treatment plants, three desalination plants and a 400 MLD desalination plant being built in Peru.

Financial aid

The project, implemented with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank, includes the laying of 91.2 km of interconnected pipelines, 64.2 km of water pipes and 2.65 km of pumping lines.

The project will also install pressure, flow and water quality measuring devices at treatment plants and distribution stations along with supervisory control and data collection systems to enable continuous monitoring from the Chennai Metrowater headquarters.

Ministers N. Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, P. Venkataramanan, Rajmohan, N. Marie Wilson and R. Kumar; Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department Additional Principal Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi, senior officials and MLAs were present at the launch.

Flood Mitigation

Later, the Chief Minister also inspected the ongoing flood mitigation measures at Okiyam Maduvu in Karapakkam.

According to an official report, Mr. Vijay directed the officials to speed up the ongoing works.

Published – 15 Oct 2026 0:12 IST