The Hyderabad Metropolitan City Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) has drawn up a massive plan to provide a permanent solution to Hyderabad’s drinking water problems. With an estimated cost of Rs. 8,000 crore, the proposed project aims to ensure uninterrupted water supply across the city by constructing a comprehensive water ring main network along the Outer Ring Road (ORR).
According to officials, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for this ambitious initiative is ready. The Water Board will soon submit it to the state government to seek administrative and financial approvals.
Permanent solution to recurring water disruptions
At present, Hyderabad relies on a partially linear pipeline system. As a result, even a minor repair or technical issue in a main pipeline disrupts water supply to lakhs of residents for several hours or even days. For instance, several localities in the LB Nagar zone, which depend on the Akkampalli reservoir, currently receive water only once every three to four days.
To overcome these challenges, HMWSSB has proposed the ring main system, which will strengthen the city’s water infrastructure and meet future demand. With Hyderabad’s population nearing 1.5 crore, officials say this project is critical for long-term water security.
140 km water ring main around ORR
As part of the project, the Water Board will construct a 140-kilometre-long water ring main along the ORR. In addition, it will develop a 98-kilometre radial distribution network to supply water to interior areas located near the ORR corridor.
Through this grid, all major water sources supplying Hyderabad — Godavari, Krishna, Manjira, Osmansagar and Himayatsagar — will be interconnected. This integration will allow the system to balance supply efficiently across the city.
Multiple sources to ensure supply stability
A senior HMWSSB official explained that once the interconnection is complete, no area will depend on a single water source. If supply from one route faces disruption, officials can immediately divert water from an alternative route. As a result, the overall system will remain stable and secure even during emergencies.
Meanwhile, the Water Board is also undertaking modernisation works worth Rs. 1,000 crore for the Manjira and Osmansagar supply networks. These upgrades aim to reduce water losses and improve the quality of drinking water.
Target completion by 2027
The next phase of the project will begin soon after the state government approves the DPR. HMWSSB has set a target to complete the water ring main project by 2027, coinciding with the operational launch of the Godavari Phase-II project.
Experts believe that once completed, this water grid will bring a revolutionary transformation to Hyderabad’s water supply system and secure the city’s needs for decades to come.
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