Gurgaon's Major Sewage Treatment Project Hits Snag as Bids Re-Invited
The construction of a proposed sewage treatment plant (STP) and main pumping station in Behrampur, Gurgaon, has encountered a significant delay. The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has re-invited bids for this Rs 191-crore project after failing to finalize them six months following the initial tender invitation.
Project Details and Purpose
This initiative is designed to strengthen sewage treatment capacity in new sectors along the Southern Peripheral Road (SPR), where rapid urbanisation is anticipated to substantially increase wastewater generation. Originally sanctioned in June 2022, the tender was first floated in October last year but was cancelled last month due to administrative reasons.
Officials explained that the cancellation was necessary to incorporate revisions in norms issued by the public health engineering department (PHED) into the bid document. "There was a revision. Accordingly, the tender was cancelled and has now been re-invited. It is scheduled to be opened on April 28," a GMDA official stated.
Infrastructure Components and Capacity Enhancement
Under this project, GMDA will undertake the construction of a 400 million litres per day (MLD) main pumping station (MPS) and an additional 100 MLD STP at Behrampur. This facility aims to augment the existing treatment capacity as sewage inflow continues to rise with expanding residential and commercial development.
Around 23 kilometers of master sewer lines in sectors 58 to 67 have already been laid by the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), while the remaining network between sectors 58 and 76 is being handled by GMDA. Once these lines are fully connected, a substantial increase in sewage flow to the Behrampur plant is expected, necessitating the additional 100 MLD treatment capacity.
Sustainability Features and Current Status
The project also includes a power generation unit that will utilise biogas produced during the treatment process, helping offset operational costs and promoting sustainability. Officials noted that the entire project is expected to be completed within two years once it is allotted to a contractor.
Currently, the Behrampur sewage treatment facility has a capacity of 170 MLD. However, only about 30% of the treated water meets tertiary treatment standards. To address this gap, GMDA is simultaneously upgrading its existing 120 MLD plant to the tertiary level. Once the upgrade is completed, the biological oxygen demand (BOD) in treated water will be reduced from 30 mg/litre to 10 mg/litre, making it suitable for reuse in agriculture, construction, and groundwater recharge.
This comprehensive effort highlights GMDA's commitment to improving wastewater management in Gurgaon amidst ongoing urban expansion, though delays in the bidding process underscore the challenges in executing large-scale infrastructure projects.
