Mumbai: BMC sets March 2027 deadline for Ghatkopar sewage treatment plant

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC has directed officials to expedite work on the Ghatkopar Sewage Treatment Plant STP and the adjoining pumping stationBMC Additional Municipal Commissioner Projects Abhijit Bangar had instructed the project team to deploy additional manpower and complete the work within the stipulated timelinesDuring an inspection of the project sites on July 11 Bangar reviewed the progress of the 337millionlitresperday MLD Ghatkopar Sewage Treatment Plant and the ongoing upgradation of the Ghatkopar Pumping StationFollowing the inspection he directed the officials to plan the execution with the objective of completing the STP by March 31 2027 while setting a December 2026 deadline for the pumping station upgradeAccording to the officials the civic chief instructed engineers to make optimum use of the current lull in monsoon rainfall to accelerate construction activities Bangar further emphasised systematic execution of the project deployment of additional manpower simultaneous completion of multiple project stages and detailed microplanning to ensure timely deliveryBangar said ldquoThe project could be completed ahead of schedule if the work is carried out in a wellplanned and coordinated mannerrdquoPumping station project achieves 85 per cent physical progressDuring his visit Bangar reviewed the ongoing civil and electrical works at the Ghatkopar Pumping Station where repair of the existing structure replacement of machinery laying of rising mains and installation of highercapacity pumps are underwayAccording to the BMC the pumping station project has achieved 85 per cent physical progress and officials have been instructed to complete the remaining work by December this year considering its critical role in the citys sewage treatment networkAlong with Bangar Deputy Commissioner Engineering Shashank Bhore Chief Engineer Mumbai Sewage Disposal Project Ashok Mengade and other senior officials were present during the inspectionProject to improve water qualityThe civic body said the new sewage treatment plant is expected to significantly improve the quality of treated wastewater discharged into the sea benefiting marine biodiversity and enhancing seawater quality around Mumbais coastlineAs per the officials the project is also expected to benefit residents of Ghatkopar Mankhurd Govandi and Chembur by strengthening the citys sewage treatment infrastructureWhile issuing an official statement BMC further noted that construction of the new facility is being carried out while ensuring uninterrupted operation of the existing sewage treatment plant Before the new plant becomes operational the existing lagoon must be desilted with the removed sludge treated and scientifically disposed ofThe project is being executed in a challenging environment as the site is surrounded by a creek forest land and the ecosensitive Thane Creek Flamingo SanctuaryMumbai Sewage Disposal projectThe Mumbai Sewage Disposal Project Department awarded the contract for the design construction operation and maintenance of the 337 MLD Ghatkopar Sewage Treatment Plant to GVPR Engineers Ltd on May 31 2022 with work commencing on July 5 2022The project includes a fouryear design and construction phase followed by a 15year operation and maintenance period SFC Environmental Technologies Pvt Ltd is the technology provider while Tata Consulting Engineers Ltd is serving as the project consultantThe new facility will use Sequential Batch Reactor SBR technology to provide advanced sewage treatment Once operational it will treat 337 MLD of sewage through secondary treatment while 170 MLD will undergo tertiary treatment before discharge At present the existing Ghatkopar sewage treatment plant only carries out primary treatment including screening and degritting before releasing treated water into the creek