Chennai's Water Lifeline: ₹2,423 Cr Ring Main Project

The Tamil Nadu government has unveiled an ambitious Rs 2,423 crore Ring Main project aimed at ensuring uninterrupted and equitable water supply across Chennai. The proposed 93-km circular pipeline will link all major water sources — including the Chembarambakkam, Red Hills, and Kannankottai–Thervoy Kandigai reservoirs, the Minjur and Nemmeli desalination plants, and the upcoming Salt Lake reservoir.

Designed to form a continuous loop, the pipeline will run along key arterial roads such as GST Road, Arcot Road, Mount Poonamallee Road, and Manali–Ennore Road. This strategic integration is intended to address chronic water shortages, particularly in tail-end localities like Tondiarpet and Thiruvottiyur, which often face low pressure or service disruptions — especially during breakdowns at facilities like the Minjur desal plant.

“With this system, if one source fails — like Minjur — we can seamlessly redirect supply from Chembarambakkam or Red Hills,” said Metrowater Managing Director T G Vinay. The project also includes five booster pumping stations to facilitate flexible water routing and build redundancy into the network.

Backed by funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the initiative is in its final planning phase. Once implemented, it is expected to significantly reduce dependence on water tankers and provide a long-term solution to Chennai’s persistent water distribution challenges.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.