A sewer network laid in Secunderabad Cantonment more than 15 years ago under a Japan-funded infrastructure project is set to receive financial push to make it fully operational, as the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) approved a ₹246.92-crore project to bridge connectivity gaps that left large sections of the system underutilised.

The project, titled Comprehensive Up-gradation of Underground Sewerage System (CUUSS), was approved during a recent board meeting. It will be executed by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) under the Equal Value of Infrastructure (EVI) mechanism linked to Defence land utilised for the construction of elevated corridor projects passing through the cantonment.

According to the Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted by HMWSSB, the project involves laying and replacing 119.393 km of sewer pipelines of varying diameters at an estimated cost of ₹246.92 crore. Board records noted that HMWSSB had laid trunk sewer lines of more than 300 mm diameter within Secunderabad Cantonment under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) project in 2010. However, these trunk lines remained largely underutilised and non-functional because of gaps in connectivity between different stretches of the network.

The proposed project seeks to bridge these gaps by laying connecting pipelines and making the trunk network fully operational. Officials said the upgraded system would also facilitate diversion of sewage into the trunk lines, preventing the discharge of untreated sewage into open nalas.

The Board observed that existing sewer infrastructure in localities such as Anna Nagar and Rasoolpura is in a deteriorated condition, with inadequate gradients and insufficient carrying capacity. The shortcomings have led to recurring sewage overflows, causing inconvenience to residents and raising public health concerns.

The sewerage upgrade forms part of a larger infrastructure package proposed under the EVI scheme, through which civic infrastructure is being created in lieu of compensation for Defence lands affected by two elevated corridor projects — which includes the Paradise Junction-Shamirpet corridor on Rajiv Rahadari (SH-01) and the Paradise Junction-Dairy Farm Road corridor on NH-44.

The State government had proposed multiple infrastructure works under the EVI arrangement, including strategic nala development projects. However, with available EVI funds estimated at ₹303.62 crore, the Board decided to prioritise the sewerage project and execute it in a single phase.

The Board resolved that development works relating to Picket Nala and Hasmathpet Nala would be taken up later using the balance EVI funds and by exploring other sources such as MPLADS, MLA Local Area Development Funds, grants-in-aid and Finance Commission grants.