After decades of dependence on tankers for water, residents of Thiru.Vi.Ka Nagar and neighbouring areas have now been promised a full-fledged piped water supply system, with major infrastructure upgrades under way, according to Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewage Board (CMWSSB). The Hindu recently reported that the residents’ 50-year struggle for drinking water had worsened this summer.

In the meantime, the replacement of choked water mains on Thiru.Vi. Ka Nagar 4th, 5th, and 6th streets is under way and is scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2026, CMWSSB added.

This is after the Board identified choking and complete blockage of existing water mains across many of the 202 streets in this region under the Thiru.Vi. Ka Nagar constituency, the Department stated.

Permanent solution

To meet immediate water needs, supply to Thiru.Vi. Ka Nagar 1st to 9th streets is currently managed through 25 tank installations, filled by 12 mobile water supply lorries. However, this is only a temporary arrangement, officials said.

To permanently address the issue, a detailed project report (DPR) has been prepared for replacing pipelines over a length of 18.185 km using ductile iron pipelines ranging from 100 mm to 450 mm in diameter. The project also includes the construction of overhead tanks and underground sumps to serve 964 tenements.

The ₹59.15-crore project is being executed by the CMWSSB with funds from Singara Chennai 2.0 and the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board, and is expected to be completed by August 2027.

One of facilities in the project would comprise an 11-lakh-litre overhead tank with a six-lakh-litre underground tank, while the other would have a 25-lakh-litre overhead tank with an 11-lakh-litre underground tank.

Water distribution will be split into two zones, along with the replacement of existing electromechanical arrangements in the 1.6-lakh-litre underground tank, according to CMWSSB.

Welcoming the move, Selavaraj of Pulianthope Podhu Nala Sangam, said people who have depended on tanker water for over 50 years deserve immediate piped water supply.