After the government releases the remaining funds to mobilize a major Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded drinking water project in Kochi, the preparatory work will now begin.
The first phase of the project, which includes surveying and mapping the property in the first year, will be carried out by a private company that has signed an agreement with the Kerala Water Authority (KWA). Earlier, a mobilization advance of around ₹ 73 crore was released. The balance amount of ₹39 crore was sanctioned on Wednesday.
The topographical survey, which was suspended in view of the local body elections, will now continue as the mobilization deposit has been handed over to SUEZ, which is implementing the project. A door-to-door consumer survey will also take place in parallel with the GIS survey. The consumer survey will collect data on consumption, water demand and population.
As part of the work done earlier, the boundaries of all the nine water distribution zones in Kochi were determined. The ₹1,141.28 crore project aims to optimize the distribution of drinking water in the city.
“The first year is the year of the establishment of the project, during which we will focus on the survey and mapping of underground and above-ground objects. After the GIS survey, a proposal will be prepared,” the sources said. The team has already started data collection and consolidation. Existing data with KWA including drawings has been handed over to the company and digitization is in progress. “This is not a one-off process, but an iterative process that will require frequent feedback and suggestions from us,” they added.
10-year project
The agreement between KWA and SUEZ was signed in June. In the first year, we will focus on the design and survey of the pipeline, while in the second year, construction activities are planned to begin. The project is implemented according to the design-build-operate-transfer model. For a period of 10 years, the company will be responsible for the modernization of the water supply network, including its operation and maintenance.
Published – 01 January 2026 20:30 IST
