Coimbatore's ₹824-crore underground drainage plan to cover 33,637 homes in three suburbs
The Coimbatore Corporation has proposed a significant underground sewerage project estimated at ₹824 crore, covering Kalapatti, parts of Vilankurichi, and parts of Saravanampatti. The project, which will span nine wards, aims to provide underground sewer connections to approximately 33,637 households.
According to the proposal, the sewerage network will include 411 km of pipelines and 15,777 manholes. The design is based on the topography of the areas and projected population, with estimates for 2030, 2045, and 2060. The population for 2030 is projected at 1,30,264.
Corporation Commissioner Katta Ravi Teja said a Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared and submitted to the Directorate of Municipal Administration. Funding is being sought under the Special Infrastructure Component of the Central Finance Commission, he added.
The project covers wards 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 21, 22, and 23. Sewage generation is projected at 13.37 million litres per day (MLD) for the base period, rising to 17.66 MLD in the intermediate period and 23.09 MLD in the ultimate period.
To collect and convey sewage, ten sewage pumping stations and five sewage lifting stations are proposed. The collected sewage will be transported to a proposed sewage treatment plant at Ondipudur, which will have a capacity of 17.66 MLD. The treated effluent is proposed to be discharged into the Noyyal river.
Currently, underground sewerage works are underway in four packages across the city. Works in Kurichi and Kuniyamuthur have been completed. The Chinnavedampatti–Saravanampatti package has reached 44% progress, the Ondipudur package is around 70% complete, and the package covering Vadavalli, Veerakeralam, Thudiyalur, and Kavundampalayam has reached 42% completion.
Commissioner Ravi Teja said that once this project is taken up and completed, the entire city will be connected to the underground sewerage system. This will help prevent sewage from entering waterbodies, he noted. The project is expected to significantly improve sanitation and environmental conditions in the expanding suburban areas.
