Mangaluru: After facing multiple delays and missing several completion deadlines, the Jalasiri 24×7 water supply project being implemented within the limits of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) is now nearing completion, with officials stating that household water connections under the scheme are expected to be completed by August 2027.
Senior officials of the contracting agency, M/s Suez Projects Pvt Ltd, provided an update on the project’s progress during a media visit to various work sites across the city. The visit included the newly constructed double-storage water tank at Kodikal, a unique facility with a total storage capacity of 40 lakh litres.
Officials said key components of the project, including pipeline installation, construction of storage reservoirs and the water treatment plant at Adyar, are now scheduled for completion by March 2027.
Major infrastructure works progressing
The ambitious project aims to provide round-the-clock drinking water supply to residents through a modern and efficient distribution network.
Under the scheme, works include the laying of 1,288.8 km of water distribution pipelines, construction of 19 overhead tanks, six ground-level service reservoirs, seven pumping stations, installation of 96,300 domestic water connections equipped with multi-jet water meters and development of an 81.7 MLD filtration and pumping facility.
Once the infrastructure is completed, Suez Projects Pvt Ltd will be responsible for operating and maintaining the system for a period of eight years.
The project was launched on December 24, 2019, through the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) at an estimated cost of Rs 587.67 crore and was originally targeted for completion in 2023.
Delays push project deadline
The project timeline was affected by multiple factors over the years. The Covid-19 pandemic significantly disrupted construction activities, resulting in an initial extension of the deadline until May 2024.
Subsequent delays caused by prolonged rainfall, land acquisition challenges and issues related to highway works further slowed the project’s progress. As a result, authorities extended the overall completion deadline to March 2027.
Meanwhile, the state government approved an additional Rs 127.7 crore in January 2024 for the construction of a 125 MLD water treatment plant at Adyar. Following the revision, the total project cost increased to Rs 617.22 crore.
Significant progress achieved
Jalasiri Project Executive Engineer Suresh A H said substantial progress has been achieved across various project components.
According to him, 877.79 km of HDPE and ductile iron pipelines have already been laid across the city. Out of the planned 19 overhead tanks, three are currently supplying water while seven have been commissioned.
Construction work on another seven tanks has been completed, while one tank remains pending due to the non-availability of land.
Of the six ground-level service reservoirs planned under the project, one has already been commissioned. Civil works on four others have been completed, and electro-mechanical installations are currently underway.
All seven intermittent pumping stations envisaged under the scheme have also been completed.
Officials further stated that 38,200 existing households have already been provided with water connections under the Jalasiri project.
Overall, around 76 per cent of the entire project, including the water treatment plant, has been completed so far.
Adyar treatment plant takes shape
Hydraulic Design Engineer Amit Kumar of Suez said the water treatment plant being constructed at Adyar is progressing steadily.
The facility will feature an integrated clarification and filtration system designed to improve water quality and operational efficiency.
Officials said slab work for the ground floor of the chemical building has been completed, while roofing work on the chlorine building has also been finished. Other construction activities are continuing according to schedule.
The completion of the water treatment plant is expected to play a crucial role in ensuring a reliable and uninterrupted water supply under the 24×7 distribution system.
Kodikal gets unique 40-lakh-litre storage facility
One of the project’s notable features is a specially designed dual-purpose storage structure at Kodikal, constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 4 crore.
The facility combines a ground-level reservoir and an elevated storage tank within a single structure to address space constraints while ensuring efficient water distribution to different parts of the city.
The ground-level section has a storage capacity of 20 lakh litres, while the elevated tank can store another 20 lakh litres, taking the total capacity to 40 lakh litres.
Construction of the facility has been completed and officials said it is expected to become operational shortly.
Project expected to transform city water supply
Once completed, the Jalasiri project is expected to significantly improve drinking water distribution across Mangaluru by providing continuous water supply, reducing losses and improving system efficiency.
With more than three-fourths of the project already completed and major infrastructure works progressing steadily, officials remain confident that the revised deadlines will be achieved and that the city will soon benefit from a modern, round-the-clock water supply network.