Pendurthi's sewerage project receives administrative sanction for ₹452 crore
The integrated Sewerage Collection and Conveyance System project proposed in the Pendurthi area has received an administrative sanction of ₹452.46 crore from the Andhra Pradesh government.
The project, being undertaken by the Greater Visakhapatnam Smart City Corporation Limited (GVSCCL), will have a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). It also includes Recycled Sewage Gravity Flow (RSGF), Tertiary Treatment, and comprehensive Operation and Maintenance (O&M) services for 15 years.
In a release, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department Principal Secretary S. Suresh Kumar said, 'This initiative is a key step towards strengthening urban sanitation infrastructure and ensuring sustainable reuse of treated wastewater in the growing city of Visakhapatnam.'
According to the officials, the project aims to establish an underground drainage network serving approximately 12,000 house service connections in Pendurthi.
The project is designed to collect, treat, and safely dispose of sewage, with a strong focus on water recycling.
The contract was initially awarded to M/s Tata Projects Limited in 2018. Although the project deadline was fixed for April 2021, multiple unforeseen circumstances delayed the project timeline. Now, the project is expected to be completed by July 31, 2025. The project is now nearing completion.
The officials said that several technical modifications became necessary during the execution of the project. They include the construction of a fourth aeration tank at the Narava Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), enhancement of the flash mixer feed sump capacity, and dust-filling works along the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) road and in Chinthala Agraharam area.
The original administrative sanction for the project was ₹412 crore. However, factors such as interest during construction, escalation in input costs, and the increase in Goods and Services Tax (GST) from 12% to 18% have led to a cost overrun.
In light of this, the GVSCCL sought a revised administrative sanction of ₹452.46 crore. After due consideration, the State government has approved the revised sanction, enabling the timely completion and operational readiness of the infrastructure project.
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