CMWSSB Promises Piped Water to Thiru.Vi.Ka Nagar to End 50-Year Struggle
On June 19, 2026, the Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewage Board (CMWSSB) promised to provide a permanent piped water supply system to the residents of Thiru.Vi.Ka Nagar. This major infrastructure upgrade aims to resolve a 50-year struggle for drinking water in the Chennai neighbourhood, which had worsened during the recent summer.
As an immediate measure, the replacement of choked water mains on Thiru.Vi.Ka Nagar 4th, 5th, and 6th streets is currently under way. This work is scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2026. The Board initiated these repairs after identifying choking and complete blockages in the existing water mains across many of the 202 streets in this region under the Thiru.Vi.Ka Nagar constituency.
Currently, the drinking water needs of residents from Thiru.Vi.Ka Nagar 1st to 9th streets are being managed through 25 tank installations. These tanks are filled by 12 mobile water supply lorries. CMWSSB officials stated that this setup is only a temporary arrangement.
To permanently address the water crisis, a detailed project report has been prepared to replace pipelines over a length of 18.185 km. The project will utilize ductile iron pipelines ranging from 100 mm to 450 mm in diameter. The plan also includes the construction of overhead tanks and underground sumps to serve 964 tenements.
The ₹59.15-crore project is being executed by the CMWSSB with funds from Singara Chennai 2.0 and the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board. The entire project is expected to be completed by August 2027.
The new infrastructure will feature two primary storage facilities. One facility will comprise an 11-lakh-litre overhead tank with a six-lakh-litre underground tank. The other facility will have a 25-lakh-litre overhead tank alongside an 11-lakh-litre underground tank.
According to the CMWSSB, water distribution will be split into two zones. The project will also involve the replacement of existing electromechanical arrangements in the 1.6-lakh-litre underground tank.
Selavaraj of the Pulianthope Podhu Nala Sangam welcomed the move, stating that residents who have depended on tanker water for over 50 years deserve an immediate piped water supply.
