The Andhra Pradesh government has granted an administrative sanction of Rs 4.52 billion for the Integrated Sewerage Collection and Conveyance System project in the Pendurthi area of Visakhapatnam, aimed at modernising urban sanitation and promoting water recycling.

Spearheaded by the Greater Visakhapatnam Smart City Corporation Limited (GVSCCL), the project features a comprehensive wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), Recycled Sewage Gravity Flow (RSGF) system, tertiary treatment, and 15 years of operation and maintenance services. It is expected to serve around 12,000 household connections once operational.

Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department Principal Secretary S. Suresh Kumar described the initiative as a vital stride towards “strengthening urban sanitation infrastructure and ensuring sustainable reuse of treated wastewater in the growing city of Visakhapatnam.”

Originally awarded to Tata Projects Limited in 2018, the project was initially due for completion by April 2021. However, a series of unforeseen challenges delayed the timeline. It is now slated for completion by 31 July 2025.

The scope of the project has evolved during implementation, requiring several technical enhancements such as the construction of a fourth aeration tank at the Narava STP, increased flash mixer feed sump capacity, and dust-filling works along the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) road and in Chinthala Agraharam.

Initially sanctioned at Rs 4.12 billion, the revised project cost of Rs 4.52 billion reflects a cost escalation driven by interest during construction, rising input prices, and an increase in Goods and Services Tax from 12 per cent to 18 per cent.

The state’s revised approval ensures the project stays on track for timely completion, delivering enhanced sewage treatment capacity, environmental benefits, and urban infrastructure resilience.